Gatsby as the New American Archetype

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The American Dream is the goal many generations have pursued, but overtime the process on “how” we pursue the dream has evolved. It started out as having a determined, Protestant work ethic then degenerated to a lazy ambition of a work ethic. The “easy way out” or a “get rich quick scheme” has become the mantra of notorious criminals and common thieves. The American Nation was built on the idea of a “self-made” man, encouraged by the 1920’s industrial boom, that wealth and prosperity earned by the sweat of your own brow and that anyone, regardless of gender and ethnicity, could eventually achieve the American Dream. However the pursuit of the American dream touched some individuals to the extreme, causing them to become hell-bent on achieving their goals no matter what. The industrial boom also instilled jingoistic perception of identity into the hearts of Americans, causing them to view themselves as superior to others. With an incredible ambition along with the perception of superiority, corrupt politics and business were somehow justified all for the sake of succeeding, and thus the American Gangster was born. Not just the literal gangsters such as Al Capone, but anyone who involved themselves with illegal activity in order to profit, such as political machine William “Boss” Tweed. Tweed took advantage of immigrant’s vulnerable survival in the new world by helping them with basic necessities in exchange for harassed political or financial support (The American Pageant). The new American Archetype is now “in favor of a much more extravagant form of ambition” such as Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby, a man who recognized his ambitions but redirected himself to a corrupt path where he easily obtains his means of living through illegal actions. In today’s society people are constantly portraying characteristics of the gangster archetype, partaking in illegal activities in
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