The Great Gatsby

5 Pages 1317 Words

When posed with the question, “How does Fitzgerald convey the theme of the American Dream throughout The Great Gatsby?” one might find it difficult to respond to. The definition of the American Dream varies from one person to another. It is safe to say, however, that one of the stereotypical American Dreams is “a house surrounded by a white picket fence where Dick and Jane play with their dog, Spot.” Most people perceive this setting as the perfect life, because it appears to be flawless -- no problems and no worries. The upper class would be a part of this “perfect life” as well. A person in the upper class has wealth, intelligence, and is somewhat superior to the other social classes. That, in itself, seems like the perfect life, in addition to the American Dream. Yet are stereotypes, such as these, as accurate as they appear?
Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of The Great Gatsby, seems to represent this American Dream. The reader becomes aware of his wealth and position in the upper class as the novel progresses. One illustration is when Daisy and Gatsby are first reunited. Klipspringer, Gatsby’s piano player, plays a song for Gatsby and Daisy because Gatsby told him to. This gives the reader a sense of Gatsby’s superiority. Another example that displays his wealth is the references to his extravagant wardrobe. Fitzgerald mentions Gatsby wearing a pink suit at one time in The Great Gatsby. Also, Gatsby hires someone to cut his neighbor’s grass, which was another allusion to his wealth. In addition to his upper class lifestyle, he regularly throws social gatherings in his home, which shows how many people he knows. His wealth and social life make his life complete. If someone lived a life similar to Gatsby’s, he or she would be filled with satisfaction.
From the perspective of an outsider, it appears as though Gatsby has a life of perfection, yet he is still unsatisfied. His life is like a story wor...