FREE ESSAY ON THE GREAT GATSBY

THE GREAT GATSBY

The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitsgerald, is about the American Dream, and the
downfall of those who attempt to reach its imaginative goals. The attempt to capture the
American Dream is common in many novels. This dream is different for fidderent people,
but in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that through wealth and power, one can
acquire happiness. To get this happiness Jay must reach into the past and relive an old
dream and in order to do this he must have wealth and power.
Jay Gatsby, the main character of the story , is a character who longs for the past.
Suprisingly he devotes most of his adult life trying to recapture it and, finally, dies
in its pursuit. In the past, Jay had a love affair with the extravagant Daisy. Knowing he
could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to
obtain wealth to reach her high standards. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to
Daisy, Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay, and throws
extravagant parties, happen,he asks around casually if anyone knows her. Soon he meet
Nick Carraway, a cousin of Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting, He wants to know... if
you'll invite Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting, He wants to know...if you'll invite
Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over. Gatsby's personal dream
symbolizes the larger American Dream where all have the opportunity to get what they
want.
Later, as we see in the Plaza Hotel, Jay still believes that Daisy loves him. He is
convinced of this as is shown when he takes the blame for Myrtle's death. Was Daisy
driving? Yes...but of course I'll say I was. He also watches and protects Daisy as she
returns home. How long are you going to wait? All night if necessary. Jay cannot accept
that the past is gone and done with. Jay is sure that he can capture his dream with
wealth and influence. He believes that he acted for a good beyond his personal interest
and that should guarantee success.
Nick attempts to show Jay the folly of his dream, but Jay innocently replies to Nick's
assertion that the past cannot be relived by saying Yes you can, old sport. This shows
the confidence that Jay has in fulfilling his American Dream. For Jay, his American Dream
is not material possessions, although it may seem that way. He only comes into riches so
that he can fulfill his true American Dream, Daisy.
Gatsby doesn't rest until his American Dream is finally fulfilled. However, it never
comes about and he ends up paying the ultimate pirce for it. The idea of the American
Dream still holds true in today's time , be it wealth, love, or fame. But one thing never
changes about the American Dream; everyone desires something in life, and everyone,
somehow, strives to get it. Gatsby is a prime example of pursuing the American Dream.