Gatsby and the American Dream

Gatsby pursued the American Dream, as all the other characters pursued the American
Dream, though he went to greater lengths to achieve his own personalized version of the
American Dream. Gatsby however did not turn out alright in the end. Gatsby realized that
what he had always dreamed of, was unrealistic and not what he wanted, when he
achieved it.
The American Dream is defined as an American ideal of a happy and successful life to
which all may aspire, and that everyone in the United States has the chance to achieve
success and prosperity. Gatsby’s dream was to be with Daisy and to do this he knew he
had to impress her materialistically. Daisy is a material-girl, who was with Jay Gatsby
before the war, however during the war she married to a wealthy man whose wealth is
“old money”. Old money is the term, that is used to describe the inherited wealth of
established upper-class families. Gatsby makes his money through the underworld and
his dealings with Meyer Wolfsh...