Both texts revel the tension between idealism and reality. Analyse and compare how this shared idea is represented in the texts and evaluate the extent to which it is impacted by the composers’ context. When does our attainable dream of love, become an idealised fantasy? The universal conceptualization of love is a subject explored throughout history and literature. Elizabeth Barrett-Browning’s sonnet sequence Sonnets from the Portugeuse, explores the experence of idealised love in the patriarchal confines of the Victorian era, juxtaposed against F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, which comments on the unatanability of idealised love due to the corruption of the American dream.
Nick reflects that just as Gatsby’s dream of Daisy was corrupted by money and dishonesty, the American dream of happiness and individualism has disintegrated into the mere pursuit of wealth. Though Gatsby’s dedication to transform his dreams into reality is what makes him “great,” Nick reflects that the era of dreaming—both Gatsby’s dream and the American dream—is
The American Dream Ruined The American dream was originally supposed to be prosperity, success, having a family, and being able to provide for that family without worry. Money was acquired through hard work and honesty, but The Great Gatsby presents an entirely different perspective on this dream. One example from the book is the way Gatsby gets his money--through bootlegging. He steped completely out of the guidelines of the American Dream. The American Dream was not meant to be corrupt, but during the 1920s, people like Gatsby used organized crime and other immorally wrong ways to gain their wealth.
That means Gatsby’s origin of his money is mysterious. But Tom’s money definitely comes from his family. Daisy chooses Tom event if she is in love with Gatsby, because Tom is more socially desired, Gatsby doesn’t have the social status that Daisy wants. Gatsby uses his money to get everything that his thinks Daisy has always wanted in hope to get her back. Gatsby needs to lie to Daisy about his past to convince her that he is worthy for her.
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
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.
One way in which Linda holds up and encourages her husband is by telling him that things will work out for the better. This is relevant to the American Dream as her hopes for Willy never blossom, just as the American Dream cannot actually be achieved by everyone as it states. Willy’s beliefs of how you become successful in the Business World are entirely wrong. He has the right mindset for the Green World but does not want to accept this; he has to make his own way in the Business World. He believes that qualities such as popularity and loyalty are essential, however Howard throws all of this out the window in bluntly saying: ‘business is
Perhaps I missed something, but what quality is it in Willy that should make us regret his departure? Arthur Miller, who is one of the last unrepentant Marxists, obviously sees Willy as a victim of capitalism. Willy has bought into the American Dream and it has destroyed him; after a lifetime of toil in the system, he is being disposed of now that he is no longer productive. The problem with this is that, much like Jay Gatsby (see Orrin's review), Willy has simply failed to understand the promise of that dream. He believes that the recipe for success is to be "impressive" and "well-liked" and for your children to be identical to you in manner and aspiration.
Willy associates Ben with qualities that he himself severely lacks Realtiyvs Illusion Willy has dreams of material success, notoriety and has a misguided notion of the American Dream. These hopes dwarf the other aspects of his mentality and ultimately result in a psychological descent. He is then unable to distinguish his wild dreams and unattainable goals from the harsh reality of the present. Willy attempts to convince his sons that he is well-liked: ‘... and know me,boys, they know me up and down New England…’ This demonstrates that he is discernibly delusional, as he is neither well-liked nor known. The pressure