The idea of the American Dream in “The Great Gatsby”
The idea of the American Dream, as introduced by the Founding Fathers, has its roots in the belief that all people have the right to pursue happiness-their own idea of happiness. The American dream is based on the idea that America is a land of freedoms and opportunities, and that all men, regardless of their background or ethnicity, if they invest the necessary hard work and sacrifice, can achieve their version of success. However, the ambitious American culture can be viewed both as a great example of the power of equality and democratic freedoms, as well as the curse of capitalism. This is because the characters are trapped in an endless pursuit of wealth and status. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” uses several metaphors and symbols and to convey the idea of the American dream.
Gatsby’s unsuccessful pursuit of upward class mobility symbolizes the disintegration of the American dream in the 1920s. For instance, the Saturday parties thrown by Gatsby in his desire to finally taste and show off opulence, are a symbol of how the American dream, initially an honorable idea, was corrupted by moral decay. Furthermore, the necessity to throw needless parties in itself for the sake of appearances and keeping up with the practices of East Egg residents symbolizes the American Dream as a wasteful, purposeless journey. As noted about the guests, “Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission” (Fitzgerald 45). The idea is no longer about the achievement of dreams but about social pressure.
The futility in chasing the American dream is also symbolized by the pursuit of the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock that appears to be out of reach. Nevertheless, Gatsby believes he should continue chasing this light as seen in his thoughts: “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…. And one fine morning…” (Fitzgerald 193). The green light also symbolizes his yearning to have Daisy, the love of his life, back in his life. The importance of the green light is further understood when one considers that it is in the 1920s that the use of traffic light was introduced, and the idea that the green light indicates a vehicle to move hence was applied. In this perspective, it appears that the author is encouraging the pursuit of all dreams, just like the American Dream encourages all people to chase their dreams.
Other important symbols in the novel are the types of motor vehicles used by the characters. Gatsby drives a Rolls Royce, a luxury car that symbolizes power and influence, and that is what he wants to communicate. However, he lives a vain life as seen in the use of his cars: “On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city, between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains” (Fitzgerald 43). However, the need to drive an expensive car, and to paint it yellow because his primary intent is to impress Daisy, symbolizes the struggle for acceptance that is part of the American dream. It becomes clear to the reader that Gatsby cannot be accepted by the New York elite, or by the woman he desires, because of who he is, but can only be accepted based on his possessions.
Gatsby also purchases a luxurious mansion, not for his benefit, but because he believes it will improve his social status and his chances with Daisy. This also symbolizes the vanity in the American dream. Furthermore, Daisy’s name refers to a white flower. Fitzgerald, portraying her as a lady who always dresses in white, uses the symbolism of white to communicate perfection, purity a. nd luxury. Daisy also symbolizes unreachability, just like the American dream is out of reach. She is the ultimate object of desire, as seen in the words of the narrator, “She was just eighteen, two years older than me, and by far the most popular of all the young girls in Louisville. She dressed in white, and had a little white roadster and all day long the telephone rang in her house and excited young officers from Camp Taylor demanded the privilege of monopolizing her that night…” (Fitzgerald 81).
Furthermore, the emphasis on the white color is also seen in her “white face” and “white girlhood” that she describes as “beautiful” (Fitzgerald 22). The novel, thus, is seen to associate the white color with the opulence of the aristocrats as seen in the fact that the houses in “fashionable East Egg” are described as “white palaces” (Fitzgerald 8). Daisy, when she later reveals her true nature as a selfish and greedy, and even murderous, when she kills Myrtle by hitting him while driving. When it is later revealed that Daisy was far different from the innocent beauty she was portrayed to be, the futility of the American Dream is illustrated in her life and death. The carelessness in the life Daisy and her social class live is described as dangerous and undesirable: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money…” (Fitzgerald 191).
Additionally, the characters in The Great Gatsby exemplify the social trends of the 1920s-greed and ambitious speculation that are evident in the social climbers that frequent the parties hosted by Gatsby. Inevitably, the established aristocracy resists the social climbers trying to get to their level, and by despising them, symbolize the clash between the wealthy Americans who are self-made, and the established upper class. A clear manifestation of this conflict is the book’s symbolic geography, the West Egg represents the social climbers, while the East Egg represents the rich who have been at the top for a long time. Besides, because everyone is trying to get rich by any means possible in this era, the emergence of organized crime is symbolized by Meyer Wolfshiem and Gatsby’s riches.
Moreover, the novel is awash with incidences of infidelity. For instance, Tom juggles between two women: “His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate, were slipping precipitately from his control” (Fitzgerald 133). The characters in the story are often involved in affairs that cut across the social classes, thereby mocking the very promise that the American dream was meant to help individuals cross the social bridge. Instead, the American dream is associated with immorality. The theme of the American dream as an immoral pursuit is further symbolized by the valley of ashes, where Nick goes to look for his mistress. The area between West Egg and East Egg earned its name as a valley of ashes from the industrial waste generated by workers and business owners chasing the American dream. The waste dumped represents the fact that morals are not a priority for those chasing the American dream.
The characters in the story are inspired by the promise of prosperity and wealth that is associated with the American dream. Gatsby, motivated by the idea that upward social mobility is attainable, firmly believes that he can rise from the impoverished life of the lower class to equal status with Tom and Daisy. In his desire to live like Tom and Daisy do, and to be respected as they are, Gatsby spends his life chasing material wealth, and even when he does acquire the possessions he is obsessed with, he is still rejected by the upper class. Gatsby’s failure to earn acceptance symbolizes the vanity of the American dream-like a hamster running on a wheel, those who spend their lives chasing wealth ultimately do not find the satisfaction they want. Fitzgerald thus portrays the American dream to be a mirage, an illusion that is out of touch with reality.