Amber Baskett Mrs. Vincent AP Lang/ Comp (6) 29 October 2013 “The Seemingly “Great” Gatsby” The American Dream is not what it seems. In the 1920’s, the American Dream was nothing but an idea of materialistic wealth and objective pleasures. The desire for the American Dream represented the demise of America, where hard work and good ethics were abandoned for wealth and the good life. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is a self-made man who started out with no money— only a plan for achieving is dream. He is so blinded by his luxurious possessions that he does not see that money cannot buy love or happiness.
As the novel proceeds, it is quickly revealed that the reality they live differs from their appearance to their fellow high society members. Firstly, Gatsby’s wealth is not genuine because he does illegal activities to distinguish himself from the poor. Secondly, Daisy is not an ideal wealthy housewife because she is deceiving and unfaithful. Lastly, Tom wants to have the perfect image of a happy family but his lust prevents him from actually having one. Humankind want to be something they are not so which causes reality to be an
West Egg is the complete opposite of East Egg. It is home to the “new rich,” for people having made their money recently, not having the social connections with the East Egg set. West Egg is characterized by extreme wealth and poor taste. Nick’s West Egg house is next door to Gatsby’s mansion. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is a man who started out with no money, only a plan for accomplishing his dream.
He is still left unfulfilled, his money unable to substantiate his love for Daisy. She still went off with Tom and Gatsby is left there, his whole effort in vain. So it is clear through Gatsby’s plight, that money does not make a difference and is ultimately inconsequential in the value of one’s life. The irony in Owl-Eyes’ comment after Gatsby’s funeral, calling Gatsby “’the poor old son-of-a-bitch’”(175) illustrates this a little further. Gatsby tries all of his
Nick notes them as “careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness” (179). Nevertheless, Daisy constantly intends on fleeing the situation. Daisy eases her mind by lavishly utilizing money preventing herself to move on in the American Dream, or in other words, holding on to her selfish, rich
Themes in Emma and Clueless Wealth Class and Charity * The aristocracy in Emma had a ‘noblesse oblige’ to help the less fortunate. * The class system and aristocracy didn’t function because many ignored their ‘noblesse oblige’. * Mr Knightley is the ideal aristocratic gentleman of 18th Century England. * Cher and the wealthy in Clueless are the modern equivalent of Emma’s gentry. * Cher knows little of poor and charity and doesn’t feel that she has a ‘noblesse oblige’.
This could be used to show the reader how Nick is supposed to represent a more middle-lower class of people and therefore is not as rich as Gatsby so is shown to be overwhelmed by the home of an upper class. This could also be reflective of Fitzgerald’s memories and how he was a ‘poor boy’ and had been astounded in the same way as Nick at how different their lives seemed. Nick also describes the house to be ‘twisting’ ‘fluttering’ and ‘rippling’ which connotes the rich as sophisticated and elegant. This emphasises to the reader that Nick does see richer people as more superior and dissimilar to him so here shows how ‘the rich are
In the end realizing their greatest flaw was seeking refuge in the American dream which was the cause of their downfall. One of Gatsby’s and Willy Lomans greatest flaws that lead to their downfall is the way these characters portray their image and wealth toward others. Gatsby’s disposition to have extravagant parties regardless of the fact that he knows no one, just to be known as rich, is a clear exemplar of trying to obtain a popular reputation for himself “Do you know him?” “He’s just a man named Gatsby.” (Fitzgerald37) This enumerates the fact that even in the eyes to his quests Gatsby wasn’t of any
Arthur birling is a wealthy, self made middle class factory owner of the Edwardian era. He is first introduced through the stage directions at the beginning of the play. Priestley describes him as "rather portentious" suggesting his own self importance. This is a characteristic of his attitude throughout the play where his ignorance, self regard and lack of respect for those of lower social status than him such as Eva smith shows the flawed mindset of the wealthy in 1912. Priestley exposed Birling as being a self interested capitalist whose lack of social conscience prevents him from learning the important lesson of social responsibility which constitutes the main message of the play.
The most prominent aspect of realism in the novel is Gatsby realizing he will never be with Daisy. The realism aspect of Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship is focused on the reasons why they can’t be with each other, mainly due to the fact that there is a feud between Tom and Gatsby. Also, the morose details of what Gatsby did to achieve his American Dream contribute to realism of this story. Gatsby’s American Dream involves him self-improving in order to become rich and successful, also slightly notorious, just so he can get noticed by the love of his life. Gatsby thinks by accomplishing his American Dream, he can marry the girl of his dreams.