Throughout this novel, the downfall of the once majestic dream is witnessed through various characters’ stories. A prime example is Gatsby’s aspiration to win over Daisy, which remains unfulfilled. The narrative also brings attention to the inequalities based on race and social status, as well as the hardships faced by diligent individuals from the lower class who continue to endure impoverished conditions. An essential element of the American dream is its pledge to achieve one’s objectives; however, in this instance, Gatsby’s dream never comes true. Despite his unwavering love for Daisy and relentless pursuit, Gatsby cannot reach his ultimate goal.
Gatsby purchases a large mansion across from Daisy’s house and throws extravagant parties all night in an attempt to get her attention. Every evening, he stands on his dock, waving his hand and trying to reach the green light coming from Daisy’s house, symbolizing his dream. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the future filled with wild desires that moves further away from us each year. It eluded us back then, but that doesn’t matter. Tomorrow we will strive harder and reach farther with open arms… And then one fine morning? So we continue to struggle against the current, constantly pulled back into the past.” Gatsby lives for his dream and truly believes in it. The goal is within reach, just on the other side of the river. However, his dream is like the green light—nearby but out of reach. The green light also represents the difficulty of achieving goals in America, even for wealthy individuals. This reflects the decline of the American Dream. Gatsby originally comes from a poor family in the Middle East, but he tries to conceal this fact because in America, social status determines one’s worth.
He successfully endeavored to enhance his wealth and status in order to win back Daisy, aiming to become a high-class individual. However, he was unaware that money could not alter one’s true self. From the moment of his birth, he had already lost this game. The pursuit of his dream to attain Daisy seemed within reach on this lush, blue lawn. Little did he know that it was already in his past, left behind somewhere in the vast obscurity beyond the bustling city, as the Gatsby dream of being with Daisy compelled him to do whatever it takes to win her back.
Despite the hardships he has endured, a small body of water seems insignificant to him. However, he is unaware that his dream has become unattainable. He will never match her social status, and she will be unable to maintain the accustomed lifestyle. In the sass era, social status in America could be categorized as follows: Old money, referring to those born into wealth; new money, comprising wealthy individuals who retain riches for a generation or two; middle class and working class, representing the lower class.
Each social class in America held a distinct status that was considered unattainable by others. Consequently, social hierarchy lost its significance. Nevertheless, Gatsby refused to give up hope. He firmly believed that Daisy would leave her husband Tom and return to him. Gatsby patiently awaited Daisy’s call, even though no message ever arrived. The butler stayed awake, eagerly anticipating the call, until four o’clock in the morning – long after anyone could deliver it, if it ever came at all. I suspect that Gatsby himself doubted its arrival and may have stopped caring altogether.
If that was true, he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world and paid a high price for living too long with a single dream (8. 111)”. Just before Gatsby’s death, he still awaited Daisy’s call and believed she would return to him. However, she never contacted him. Gatsby dedicated his entire life to attaining his “American Dream”, of which Daisy was a significant part. Now that she has chosen Tom over Gatsby, the final piece of his puzzle is missing. Ultimately, Gatsby did endure a high cost for clinging to a single dream: death.
The tragic death symbolized the demise of the American dream, which includes equal opportunities for success. However, the inequality that plagued America in the 1920s presented serious issues, such as racism and social hierarchies. Tom Buchanan, belonging to the old money class, saw his race and social status as a dominating force in the country. “Civilization’s going to pieces,” Tom exclaimed passionately. “I’ve become extremely pessimistic about things.”
The passage discusses Goddard’s ideas in his book “The Rise of the Colored Empires” about the potential submergence of the white race. Goddard claims there is a scientific basis for this and it has already been proven, referring to whites as the dominant race. Conversely, Tom believed white people were superior and saw other races as pathetic and weak, disregarding any achievements or successes by people of color. Tom’s words emphasize racial inequality, which was prevalent during that time in America.
Many wealthy white people believed in the subordination of individuals from different races, reflecting a prevalent reality in America where the dignity of colored individuals was greatly diminished. As a result, racism hinders equal opportunities for success and represents the downfall of the American Dream. This novel portrays various social classes that contribute to the inequality among individuals. These include old money (represented by Tom), new money (represented by Gatsby), middle class (represented by Nick), and working class (residents of the ash valley).
People express contempt towards those in lower social classes and hold those in higher classes in high regard. In the words of Tom, “We were born different from you, it’s in our blood… Nothing that you do or dream up can ever change that.” (134). Tom reimagines Gatsby’s class distinction, stemming from his humble farming background, as a racial divide. Gatsby, on the other hand, asserts his similarity to Tom by stating, “I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr.. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife. Well, if that’s the idea you can count me out…” (130). Gatsby suggests that he and Tom are equals in terms of wealth.
Tom’s belief was that Gatsby was beneath him because of Gatsby’s lower social class, showcasing Tom’s disrespect for those in lower classes. This emphasizes the notion that wealth alone cannot alter one’s social status or garner them respect. One’s background dictates their life and societal position. The upper class holds a disdainful attitude towards and takes pleasure in despising the lower class, demonstrating the inequality among individuals and the progressive vanishing of social mobility. Nevertheless, it is commonly stated that America is a land of opportunity where individuals can accomplish their aspirations through diligence.
The novel shatters the belief that hard work can make dreams come true in America. The Valley of Ashes, located on the city’s outskirts, is where low-class individuals live and work. It is described as a place where ashes grow like wheat, forming grotesque landscapes, houses, chimneys, and smoke. The people who reside there are ash-grey men who move slowly through the dusty air. Despite their diligent efforts, they remain trapped in poverty in this desolate valley filled with coal. This portrayal symbolizes extreme poverty and despair, revealing how distant the American dream truly is despite the notion of “pulling yourself up by your bootstrap.”
Wilson George exemplifies the struggles of the working class as he puts great effort into running his auto shop in the Valley. Refusing to go to bed because he fears missing out on business, his shop is portrayed as bare and unprocessed, with only a dusty wrecked Ford visible in a dim corner.I had the thought that this garage might just be a front, hiding luxurious and charming apartments above. This assumption was reinforced when the owner himself emerged from an office, using a piece of waste to clean his hands.
These two quotes indicate that Wilson was a dedicated worker, appearing somewhat eccentric due to his intense focus on his work.
The shop itself indicated that Wilson was extremely impoverished, despite his attempts to improve his financial standing by increasing his workload. However, it seemed that his circumstances were not improving, highlighting the notion that one’s life and wealth do not necessarily improve regardless of their efforts. The impoverished become even poorer while the affluent become wealthier, symbolizing the demise of the American Dream. Ultimately, The Great Gatsby portrays the theme that the American Dream is no longer attainable as individuals are unable to fulfill their aspirations; Gatsby dedicated his entire life attempting to achieve his.
In The Great Gatsby, Daisy’s efforts to revive Gatsby ultimately lead to his downfall. Moreover, the novel reveals racial and social inequalities, illustrating that not everyone possesses equal opportunities for achieving their goals. Additionally, it portrays the grim reality that hard work does not guarantee a better life. This is exemplified by the residents of the Valley of Ashes, who are unable to improve their circumstances while the gap between wealth and poverty widens. Sadly, this same truth persists in contemporary America where individuals working full-time or juggling multiple jobs often struggle to rise above the poverty threshold. It appears as if the American Dream has been shattered – what a world!
