Great Gatsby

Alexis Knight

English 3

3-15-07

per. 1

Title

The American Dream is defined by success which is often measured by the amount of money you have, and the material things in which you own and not by the things that should bring true happiness. True happiness should be derived from things like having a good family and providing the necessities for them, loving your job and the work you do, having good health, living in a safe neighborhood, and much more. The American Dream has hardly changed since the 1920's and has somehow lost its value, so at this point you have to ask yourself... Is our perception of the American Dream corrupt? Do we define the American dream by the wrong kind of success? And, when did we lose sight of the important things in life?

There tends to be this perceived notion that money cannot buy happiness but, then why is the American Dream so centered around the idea that it can? We have tendencies to want things that we don't necessarily need, and those tendencies can be costly. In order to have such "great" things it takes money, so when we want something we also want to have money so we can buy it. Money also tends to provide a sense of security for people. In the novel "The Great Gatsby", Daisy was in a relationship with Gatsby before he left for war. While he was away at war she married Tom in part because she needed that sense of security which is so often looked for. " She wanted her life shaped now, immediately--and the decision must be made by some force--of love, of money, of unquestionable practicality--that was close at hand (Fitzgerald 159)." She married for money, and didn't base her love solely on true love and had she based it on that she probably would have ended up with Gatsby. Another example of this corrupt American Dream, where money is the first priority, is in the movie Born Rich. One of the young men, Luke, made a comment when asked about the thought of losing his inheritance. He said he was so afraid of losing his money that he tried not to even think of it. He compared it to losing a parent or a brother or sister. So, does that mean if forced to choose between saving a loved one or losing his money he would have to think twice? There should never be a price set on a human life and the two are on completely different parallels. So yes, the American Dream is corrupt because the very definition involves money and excludes things that the American Dream should be defined by.

We've defined this American dream based on how successful we are. But how exactly should that success be determined? By the amount of money we have? Determined by the profession in which we work? Or by the house in which we live in? Generally success is measured merely by the material things in which we own and the amount of money we earn. So is that to say that being a doctor is not as successful as being and investment banker? That even though doctors save lives every day, the paycheck they receive is more important? When we look at someone's house and it is small does that mean they're not successful? Fitzgerald's perception of the American Dream would agree. In the novel Gatsby throws huge, extravagant parties financed,