The American Dream in the Great Gatsby Essay: The famous novel, which was later filmed as well, “The Great Gatsby,” was written by the famous American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. The novel came in the 1920s, which was also infamous with the term roaring twenties.
The American dream is an ideal, which forms the crust of the novel. This idea revolves around life, which is full of fame and wealth. Many people have got this perception of the American dream, while it is entirely different in reality.
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Long and Short Essays on the American Dream in the Great Gatsby for Students and Kids in English
We provide students with samples of essays on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on “The American Dream In The Great Gatsby” for reference.
Long Essay on the American Dream in the Great Gatsby 500 Words in English
Long Essay on The American Dream in the Great Gatsby is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.
The novel speaks of a time in American history when people could achieve anything they want. In his narration, the novelist says that man’s characteristics in such a society were shaped by social, economic, and historical circumstances.
The main protagonist of this novel, Jay Gatsby, is born into a low-income family. Still, later on, he dedicates his life to accumulate wealth with hopes of ascending the social ladder. He is passionate about Daisy Buchanan, who has a rich backdrop, and she is another motivation to accumulate more wealth further. The American dream is portrayed through Gatsby and his mad pursuit of wealth.
The life of Gatsby perfectly describes what the effects of the American dream can be. In his hope to rise from his poor societal status, Gatsby takes up many illegal activities, opens up a drug store, and lies about it to Daisy. His entire motivation behind acquiring wealth was wrong, as he only wanted to snatch Daisy away from Tom, her husband.
Gatsby became more self-absorbed as the novel progressed, and his entire life was full of misery. Although he succeeded in securing enormous amounts of wealth, his life was full of discontentment. The novel boldly depicts the theme of the American dream through Gatsby’s characters and Myrtle. Gatsby’s life ends up soon, as George, Myrtle’s husband, kills him.
For many people, the American dream is a life full of wealth, but for many, it is the attainment of ultimate happiness, which is the American dream. There are many characters in the novel, but some attain this unimaginable wealth by any means. There is Tom’s mistress, Myrtle, who did whatever she could to achieve her American dream, that is, to be a respectable member of the upper-class society.
Myrtle’s desire to be a member of the upper-class society is so engulfing that she is willing to sacrifice anything she has and can go to any lengths. On the other hand, Tom has no value for Myrtle and is a wealthy man who lives with his wife, Daisy. Although Myrtle lives a luxurious life after becoming Tom’s mistress, her life is devoid of worldly pleasures. She ends up dead as Daisy hits her with Gatsby’s car.
There are stark similarities in the lives of Myrtle and Gatsby. Both the characters have high ambitions to live the American dream and continues on a wrong path to acquire as much wealth as they could in their entire life. The most crucial thing both these characters forgot was that if they wished to live the American dream, they should have done the first and foremost thing to set their priorities right.
They had to prioritize their essential things and should have learned from their failures. Both the characters had attained everything they could wish for, a life full of wealth and luxury, but their life was short-lived. The crooked ways they chose to attain fame and wealth were the main reasons why their lives ended up so soon.
Short Essay on the American Dream in the Great Gatsby 150 Words in English
Short Essay on The American Dream in the Great Gatsby is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Through The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald tells the story of Jay Gatsby and the theme of the American dream. The American dream is such an ideal that has got numerous different variations by different persons. While some refer to wealth when they think of the American dream, others think of unlimited happiness.
The American dream is shown with the characters of Gatsby and Myrtle. Both the characters come from a low-income family and wish to live their American dream by accumulating wealth. They move to every length to fulfil their dream. Gatsby follows the life of illegal stores while Myrtle becomes a mistress to a wealthy man, Tom. Both their ambitions come to life, but their lives are ultimately shallow and incompetent.
Their lives are short-lived, as both are killed soon after they acquire wealth and fame. The novel’s main message is that shortcuts cannot fulfil the American dream, but it needs hard work.
10 Lines on the American Dream in the Great Gatsby Essay in English
1. The achievement of the American dream comes from hard work.
2. Nick tells the story of Gatsby, his neighbour.
3. The cause of Gatsby’s death is George.
4. The American dream also includes a happy family.
5. Achieving such a dream is highly probable.
6. The novel shows the negativity of the American dream.
7. Living alone in a big mansion is not the American dream.
8. Knowledge is important for the fulfilment of the American dream.
9. George mistook Gatsby as Myrtle’s murderer.
10. Tom never valued Myrtle.
FAQ’s on the American Dream in the Great Gatsby Essay
Question 1.
Did Gatsby succeed in fulfilling his American dream?
Answer:
Yes, he was partly successful in achieving his dream, although his life was short-lived.
Question 2.
Is the American dream attainable?
Answer:
Yes, it is attainable only if we prioritize our essentials.
Question 3.
How to achieve the American dream?
Answer:
American dream can be achieved through hard work and perseverance.
Question 4.
How did Myrtle die?
Answer:
Daisy found Gatsby’s car by the gas station. She used this car to run over Myrtle, thereby killing her.