In the song, I Have A Dream, Common sings In search of brighter days, I ride through the maze of madness. The same thing can be said by Gatsby as he pursues his own American dream. Gatsbys dream is to be with Daisy, who is married to Tom. Gatsby gets so caught up in getting Daisy, he lets her take advantage of him, which eventually leads to Gatsbys murder. Gatsbys American dream faintly exists, however Gatsbys corrupted views on his social standings diminishes any chance he has with Daisy.
Gatsbys American dream, which was almost impossible to achieve, faintly existed. Throughout the novel, his dream was represented by a green light which was located on the opposite dock. He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away (Fitzgerald 25-26). The green light is introduced mysteriously and is hard to interpret at first, just as Gatsby is. As Gatsbys character and ambitions are revealed the green light losses its mysteriousness. The green light is just simply a green light, same as Gatsbys dream is just simply a dream.
Gatsby tries to fulfill his American dream by building up his social stature. He plans to win Daisy over with money. However, Gatsby does not immediately show off his wealth to Daisy; instead he builds up his material wealth for five years. Within the five years, Gatsby buys a huge mansion in West Egg. He tries to mimic the houses in East Egg, where Daisy lives. There was nothing to look at from under the tree except Gatsbys enormous house so I stared at it, like Kant at his church steeple, for half an hour (Fitzgerald 93). Also, Gatsby buys a hydroplane and a huge car in order to show of his wealth to others. Another way Gatsby shows off his wealth to others is his huge parties he throws every week. Many wealthy people tend these parties where there is loud music, dancing, and drinking. Gatsbys parties quickly throws him up the social ladder. However, he never reaches the level of Daisy and Tom. One day Gatsby tries to achieve his dream of capturing Daisy by finally showing off his wealth to her. Although Daisy is impressed, she would never leave the security that Tom provides for her. No matter what Gatsby attempts, he still falls short of his American dream.
As Gatsby chases his American dream, it is overshadowed by corruption. One thing that is questioned throughout the story is how he made his money. Some clues point to the idea that he made it illegally through bootlegging. If that is true, it shows that Gatsby earned his wealth unfairly. Gatsby speech and habit of calling people old sport also questioned Gatsbys character. Some time before he introduced himself Id got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care (Fitzgerald 53). It was obvious that he was not raised by wealth and that he was trying his hardiest to fit in. Gatsby also had a corrupted view of himself. He was a son of God. So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to the conception he was faithful to the end (Fitzgerald 104). Gatsby thought he was bigger than he really was, that he could receive what ever he wanted, which was Daisy. However, corruption prevented Gatsby from achieving his American dream.
It is obvious that Gatsbys American dream faintly existed, however Gatsbys corrupted views on his social standings clearly diminished any chance he had with Daisy.
Gatsby was willing to do any thing for Daisy, even take the blame for her wrongs, which gets him killed. Although some times corrupted, nothing could stop Gatsby of trying to reach his American dream, Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but thats no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past (Fitzgerald 189).
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