What Are The Consequences Of The Great Gatsby Chasing After The American Dream

A research article about the Corruption and inequality of wealth amongst the very rich also states, “Corruption may lead to tax evasion and unbalanced favors and this may lead to extraordinary wealth amongst a few” (Franses and Groot). This is practically Gatby’s exact money situation. He became very well off out of nowhere, under suspicious means. His character is deceiving and

Gatsby lies to everyone about who he really is, and how he got his money. Gatbsy originally came from a poor family but secretly gained money through selling alcohol, and later uses his wealth to impress Daisy. “It was from Cody that he inherited his money” (Fitzgerald 64). Later Tom finds out and says, “He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drugstores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter…I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him” (102). Throughout the story, the readers can see that Gatbsy lies about everything including his wealth.

A main character in the Great Gatsby is Tom Buchanan, what you would consider a grown up version of your typical high school jock. He’s big and strong, but not smart, which I guess is stereotyping. Tom is married to Daisy, but currently is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson. Throughout the story Tom still feels some sort of commitment to his wife, even though he’s screwing around with Myrtle behind Daisy’s back.

During Tom’s childhood, he never had to worry about money, and “his family [was] enormously wealthy-even in college his freedom with money was a matter for reproach” (Fitzgerald 6). While most people have to work in order to support themselves, Tom did not, and he had his life set up for him. Once Tom marries Daisy, he does not remain faithful to her and has affairs with other women. He does not try to make Daisy happy and is only concerned with himself. However, Daisy is also cheating on him with Gatsby.

Gatsby’s accumulation of wealth demonstrates his resolute attempt to reach the American Dream. Firstly, as Gatsby brings Nick and Daisy over to his mansion, in the front yard, Daisy “admired this aspect or that of the feudal silhouette against the sky, admired the gardens, the sparkling odor of jonquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate” (Fitzgerald 96). Fitzgerald uses a lengthy sentence structure to describe the bountiful amount of adornments around the entrance of Gatsby 's mansion by repeating the conjunction “and”. The sentence itself is not short nor choppy, but instead with its continuous flow, it highlights the abundance of ornaments solely at the gate of his mansion. More importantly, it also emphasizes his obvious wealth, as his impressive purchases overflow out of his mansion and into the property itself.

By partaking in criminal activities he justifies being a non-admirable person. His wealth comes from the drug business arrangement with Meyer Wolfsheim. “He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts” (203). Shortly after, we learn Gatsby left Walter Chase to rot in jail for a month and Gatsby doesn’t even begin to help.

Gatsby became involved in illegal activity to obtain some money to impress Daisy. His web of lies is discovered by Tom. “I found out what your ‘drug stores’ were.’ He turned to us and spoke rapidly. " He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter.”

Gatsby almost craved wealth and respect. He was so desperate that he became a bootlegger to make large amounts of money considering he wasn’t born into wealth but, he really wanted that lifestyle. Tom said, “… I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far from wrong.” (Fitzgerald 44) He said this because how does someone become that wealthy out of nowhere and isn’t “old money”.

This revolution clears up the question of how Gatsby became of his wealth and how he could continue spending so lavishly. Bootlegging money was an endless stream of income that never ran dry, and this point is

He turned to us and spoke rapidly. " He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter”’ (Fitzgerald 103). Disobeying the law was a consequence from Gatsby being set on becoming wealthy. Pursuing fame and wealth can lead to a long line of lies, as well as irrational

He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong.” (7.127) Gatsby earned his fortune through the illegal sale and distribution of liquor. Rumors of Gatsby’s being a bootlegger circulated with partygoers in chapter four while indications that Gatsby may be involved in criminal activity are suggested in chapter five.

The American Dream Maya Lin once said. “The American Dream is being able to follow your own personal calling. To be able to do what you want to do is incredible freedom.” Having this in mind, everyone’s personal dream is very different as no two people are driven by the same things. With that, a huge controversy amongst our modern world is whether or not the American Dream is in fact dead or not.

Failure of The American Dream The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality, can be successful in America. The 1920s is called the “Roaring Twenties” because the music, fashion, and art that made up the period is anything but quiet, everyone was outside and could not stay inside as the jazz music kept everyone moving and grooving where nobody cared what you wore as everyone was equal, the 1920s settled after post-World War 1 when the Stock Market was booming, there was a sense that there was plenty of money to go around, Furthermore, the famous book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald is pushing to state that the American Dream is destroyed through various symbols throughout

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald exhibits the loss of the American Dream the most through three characters: Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and James Gatz, also known as Jay Gatsby. Tom Buchanan, a man who will use force and destruction to get what he wants because he is rich and high up in the social hierarchy and would like to keep it that way and not allow anyone else to achieve this. Daisy Buchanan, a woman who charms and manipulates people to get what she wants, all while staying rich, pretty, and innocent. Mr. Gatsby, a man who only wants one thing that can blame himself, but mostly others for destroying what he has built to get what he wants. Throughout the novel, Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and Mr. Gatsby are all the cause of

The Corruption of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald illustrates society in the 1920’s and the desire for the people with in it to achieve the American Dream, which embodies the hope that one can achieve power, love and a higher economic/social status through one’s commitment and effort. The novel develops the story of a man named Jay Gatsby and his dream of marrying what he describes as his “golden girl”, also known as, Daisy Buchanan, his former lover. Fitzgerald explores the corruption of the American dream through the Characters; Myrtle, Gatsby and Daisy.