They were saying that the Constitution was didn’t honor the liberty nor the self-government. Wood believes that the Federalists acted more creatively than any other generation in America history. He also believes that the Federalists of the 1790s feared the people, while the earlier Federalists didn’t and knew
He is never satisfied with what he has and once he acquires what he wants he moves onto another dream. Such as after he changes his name and starts a new exciting life he dreams of being rich and powerful, then his dream is to win over a lost love and even after he has won over Daisy he still wants more from her which she is incapable of giving. Through Jay Gatsby’s tragic story, Fitzgerald is suggesting that the American Dream is unattainable if rooted in greed. Hickey suggests that he is also implying a warning to not future generations, “The Great Gatsby might be interpreted as a warning not only to Fitzgerald’s generation but to future generations as well. Beware of pursuing that “orgiastic future” with too much fervor; one might well be destroyed by it, just as Gatsby is.” (Hickey
Key Quotes: Gatsby Quote | Analysis | ‘Foul dust that floated in the wake of his dreams’ Ch1 (pg4) | Gatsby has been destroyed/ruined because of the foul dust that followed his American dream. Possibly referring to people who took advantage of his money or used their power to try and destroy him. Achieving the American Dream doesn’t always result in happiness. | ‘He stretched out his arms towards the dark water’ Ch1 (pg16) | Gatsby truly loved Daisy. This happens when Gatsby thinks no one is watching him therefore we are able to assume it is not part of his image.
This “pretentious” nature of society is one that Holden will not conform to and this is the key idea is the relationship between the two protagonists. Using this knowledge, we can apply it to Igby and his views of the “face value” society he strives to escape. “I love the fact that the captain of the morality team invites his chick to the same party as his wife...Embrace your moral hypocrisy, D.H…” and “I'm going to California…3000 miles from fucking here.” Both quotes highlight Igby’s desire to escape a society in which superficiality rules supreme. This perspective held dearly to his heart effectively destroys his relationship with his family and surrounding friends. Holden explores the concept of relationships through the similar attitudes displayed towards popular society and his repulsion of their values.
Because of his unhappiness Gatsby was blinded by his burning desire to have Daisy, whom was not rightfully his, making him yearn for more. American society exemplifies and glorifies the necessity of money. Americans are a meretricious lot, incapable of looking into the soul of a person and choose to rely on the judgments of their first outward appearance. They say Americans aim too high but if there were any other way to aim, we do not know it. The character James Gatsby is the perfect representation of this.
Gatsby says, “I can’t say anything in his house, old sport” (?). Gatsby does have money, but it isn’t the kind that allows him into Daisy’s world. Tom knows that his wealth gives him a lot of power and influence and this is what lures Daisy into marrying him. In describing Tom’s wealth Nick says,” His family was enormously wealthy- even in college his freedom with money was a matter for reproach” (6). This wealth and power makes him believe he should get whomever he chooses.
His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate were slipping precipitately from his control.”(p.119) Tom knows that Daisy only married him for his money and although she has developed feelings for him, he fears that if he leaves her for Myrtle she will turn to Gatsby. Tom may in fact feel threaten by how Gatsby has such an extravagant house and parties. Tom has been rich all his life and it isn’t until Gatsby shows up does he realize that he might lose Daisy. Because of this Tom tells Myrtle that he and Daisy cannot get a divorce because she is a Christian. It is evident that he is not happy being married to Daisy because he has an affair with Myrtle.
People began using money to strengthen their power. The original focus of money stats eyed deteriorating fast. Gatsby decided to retrieve money illegally all for one purpose. His focus was not on wealth, social class and the finer things in life but how all of his wealth intrigued Daisy. Daisy took advantage of Gatsby, led him on and in the end she showed her true colors.
However, this “American Dream” led to more of a downfall of morals and a false sense of happiness. It created a new kind of person: a selfish, snobby, materialistic kind of person. Fitzgerald uses Tom Buchannan as a general representation of males in the 1920s. Generally, wealthy males were born into families with money, and didn’t work for it, and were brought up to have a certain air about them. Fitzgerald writes, “Now he [Tom] was a sturdy, straw haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner.
Gatsby puts away every other aspect Samra 2 of American Dream and focuses on earning enough money to get his Daisy to him. Fitzgerald shows that Gatsby is not enough to be with Daisy by writing, “He took what he could … he had no real right to touch her hand” (Fitzgerald 149). This tells readers the difference in the social standing between Daisy and Gatsby, and Gatsby gets motivated by the power of money Daisy holds to be the man who has same social standing and money as Daisy, so that he could cope up with the idol man of Daisy’s life. Fitzgerald even writes, “He knew that Daisy was extraordinary … into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby-nothing” (Fitzgerald 149). This