The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitsgerald, is about the American Dream,
and the downfall of those who attempt to reach its imaginative goals. The
attempt to capture the American Dream is common in many novels. This dream is
different for fidderent people, but in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is
that through wealth and power, one can acquire happiness. To get this happiness
Jay must reach into the past and relive an old dream and in order to do this he
must have wealth and power. Jay Gatsby, the main character of the story , is a
character who longs for the past. Suprisingly he devotes most of his adult life
trying to recapture it and, finally, dies in its pursuit. In the past, Jay had a
love affair with the extravagant Daisy. Knowing he could not marry her because
of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to obtain wealth to
reach her high standards. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to Daisy,
"Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay,"
and throws extravagant parties, happen,he asks around casually if anyone knows
her. Soon he meet Nick Carraway, a cousin of Daisy, who agrees to set up a
meeting, "He wants to know... if you'll invite Daisy, who agrees to set up
a meeting, "He wants to know...if you'll invite Daisy to your house some
afternoon and then let him come over." Gatsby's personal dream symbolizes
the larger American Dream where all have the opportunity to get what they want.
Later, as we see in the Plaza Hotel, Jay still believes that Daisy loves him. He
is convinced of this as is shown when he takes the blame for Myrtle's death.
"Was Daisy driving?" "Yes...but of course I'll say I was."
He also watches and protects Daisy as she returns home. "How long are you
going to wait?" "All night if necessary. "Jay cannot accept that
the past is gone and done with. Jay is sure that he can capture his dream with
wealth and influence. He believes that he acted for a good beyond his personal
interest and that should guarantee success. Nick attempts to show Jay the folly
of his dream, but Jay innocently replies to Nick's assertion that the past
cannot be relived by saying "Yes you can, old sport." This shows the
confidence that Jay has in fulfilling his American Dream. For Jay, his American
Dream is not material possessions, although it may seem that way. He only comes
into riches so that he can fulfill his true American Dream, Daisy. Gatsby
doesn't rest until his American Dream is finally fulfilled. However, it never
comes about and he ends up paying the ultimate pirce for it. The idea of the
American Dream still holds true in today's time , be it wealth, love, or fame.
But one thing never changes about the American Dream; everyone desires something
in life, and everyone, somehow, strives to get it. Gatsby is a prime example of
pursuing the American Dream.