Final Assessment
The Great Gatsby-American Dream
By: Tanner Reysack
-What is the American Dream?-
It's a goal, it's a goal that people strive for that will improve their lives for the better. One that has everything they want in one place and in their possession. They have achieved absolute happiness and there is nothing else they need to live the rest of their life. They have accomplished all they wanted while keeping and receiving all they wanted.
Theme
The Author shows that the American Dream is an illusion that can't be achieved. With the sad ending of Gatsby's death and Daisy disappearing with Tom. Not even bothering to go to Gatsby's funeral, was a sad awakener to the readers reality.
Where Gatsby's American dream was to be wealthy and to win Daisy back. He was successful in becoming rich, however unsuccessful in stealing Daisy's affections away from Tom. He died with an unfulfilled goal foreshadowing that even when in reach the dream will elude us all. Giving the reader the impression that their altamonte goal in life may only be a dream they could never truly reach unless it be within their sleep.
Another Example:
Myrtle's dream was to be rich, and in order to accomplish this she starts dating Tom hoping that at some point in the future he would leave Daisy and marry her. Unfortunately just like Gatsby she is killed before this dream can be realized. Not only that, but the woman she's competing against for Tom's affections is the one who ended up killing her.
Myrtle's dream was to become rich, but this dream that seemed once again close, was in reality so far out of reach.
Nick's American Dream
Nick doesn't really have an American dream, at least he doesn't show any intentions for striving for one. It isn't till the end after Gatsby's death that Nick really thinks about the American Dream, as the recognition that Gatsby seemed to have it.
-From the book- pg.189 paragraph 2:
"And as I sat there, brooding on the old unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity of the city, where the dark fields and the public rolled on under the night."
-End of Passage-
Nick realized that Gatsby seemed to have achieved the American dream, but in truth Gatsby had past over it, that he didn't see his dream was actually in the past behind him in the city, that he could have had it but it alluded him in the end leaving him only part of the American dream he strived for. Even with Gatsby gone Nick learned from hit, that Gatsby had believed in the Green light and he almost capture it. To get to the point of achieving this dream the need to move on and keep going is vital to accomplish the task one sets before them, and to complete this task, to reach their dream they must work and believe that what they want can be achieved. But with time comes the the likelihood to fail at success. Even without his knowledge the results will be different for everyone knowing if it has actually been obtained is something that is still unknown.
-From the book- Pg. 189 paragraph 3:
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eludes us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning-----
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
-End of Passage-
The American dream is different for everyone, and everyone will have different results, as well as some coming closer than others in realizing their dream coming true. The knowledge if the American dream being successful to anyone is unknown and if it has been achieved the people have already been swept away by the never ending waves of destiny and with it the knoledge is forever gone and all that is left is the mystery in weather it can ever be achieved.
Nick has not decided on his dream yet as he's only jus realized that he should have something to strive for in life to keep him going, and he learned all of this form his friend who has left behind only the knoledge that there have been those who come close to the dream but never anyone who as realized it and walked into the light that shines so bright and green.
-Examples/Quotas-
pg.189 paragraph 2:
"And as I sat there, brooding on the old unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity of the city, where the dark fields and the public rolled on under the night."
(His dream was in his past)
Pg. 189 paragraph 3:
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eludes us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning-----
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
-What/How-
In other words Nick did not yet have an American dream, at least not one he shared.
For this reason there is not what his dream was, or how he achieved it, the only thing we do know is that on the last page in the last few paragraphs did he actually start thinking about the American dream, because of this there is no what or how yet. But there is certainly going to be.
-Current Reality-
Some people see the American dream as a beacon of hope, that this could eventually be them/theirs its what keeps them going while they struggle to make ends meet and or survive. On the other hand there are also those who say the "Dream is Dead", then those who are on the fence that believe the Dream is very much real but is in need of major repairs.
Then comes those who think the American Dream is just getting by in every day life.
-Here are some examples from real people-
Chris Murray- "If i can make it to the end of my life without living in a shopping cart, i'll call it a success. I'm honestly not joking and i have a law degree."
Chuck Baginksi- "The American dream is to someday get a job that pays enough to pay off your student loans before you die."
John Manager- To me, there isn't much of one. After three years out of work, i'm just focused on survival. Got no time or money for dreams."
Jan Smith- "I think at one time the American dream meant having a place to call your own, get a house paid for, have a job you liked, transportation, take a vacation now and then. Those things didn't seem so out of reach. Now it's about survival. I worry constantly the car will break down or anything at all will go wrong to prevent me paying the bills. And many people worry if they will eat or have a roof over their head at all. The American dream has been stolen." (by who?)
The American Dream is just a Delusion- Non-believers:
@frontlinepbs- Canice Murphy (@canicemurphy) July 10, 2013: "The late, great George Carlin said it best: they call it the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe in it."
@frontlinepbs-Linda Patlan (@kamitlan) July 10, 2013: "The American Dream holds ideals of upward socioecon mobility that no longer exist. Now it operates as The American Delusion."
@frontlinepbs- hans (@primaryHans) July 10, 2013: "The American Dream is a lie that's been sold for generations and is now getting slowly exposed."
Believes it exited but no more:
Karel Van- "Horn-Seldner The “American Dream” was never more than an ideological carrot waved in front of the working class. I would say this carrot waving was partially responsible for the recession - look at all those folks who got sucked into a sub prime mortgage, trying to secure their “American dream house.”"
American Dream is still alive- (but may need some work):
Jasper Bloodsworth- To me the American Dream is the ever hopeful future. Something to keep loving and trying for. To me it isn't changing as much as it is going through real tough times.
@frontlinepbs- Jack (@jackantic) July 10, 2013: American Dream means working, saving & teaching kids these values so that they & their kids will advance further. No shortcut.