The appearance of a happy life was just a lie that covered the deep grief inside. Gatsby didn’t achieve the American dream because he chased the praise of others. His material possession didn’t bring him happiness. The only thing Gatsby dreamed about is for Daisy to accept his love.
Detailed answer:
The Great Gatsby is one of Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous literary works. However, it wasn’t all that popular at the time. The book has only recently become a classic of American literature approved by many. The piece discusses the themes of success, happiness, and consumerism. One of the concepts highlighted in the book is the American Dream. There is a journal article analyzing the novel, which has a perfect definition of this notion. They say it is the belief that anyone can become successful and rich in America if they put in the effort.
In the context of The Great Gatsby, the readers can realize that this concept is so untrue. The hero of the story manages to acquire wealth. But he doesn’t feel the happiness nor the satisfaction in his life later on. The main plot focuses on the character of Jay Gatsby. He is a self-made millionaire chasing after the love of his youth. The man has grown up in poverty and has managed to acquire a small fortune. Gatsby has become a quite wealthy and successful guy. However, this appearance of success is undermined by the lack of meaningful connections to others. Moreover, no one knows about his obsession with a particular thing.
Gatsby wanted to acquire fame and fortune only to win the love of Daisy Buchanan. In his pursuit, he engaged in illegal activities like bootlegging to get rich. Gatsby didn’t care about morality as long as the cash was the reward. His lavish lifestyle allows him to impress others. He regularly hosts parties for other wealthy elites in an attempt to see Daisy. Showing off his lifestyle and hanging out with the rich fills Gatsby with a temporary sense of accomplishment. However, none of these rich people genuinely cares for him. Most of his so-called friendships are hollow. Then, he has finally managed to confront Daisy, who is already married to another man. But she rejects Gatsby. Even his immense wealth and influence are not enough to change her mind.
The failure of the American dream is most acutely seen in the last chapter of the book. One unfortunate thing leads to another, and Gatsby ends up being shot and killed. After he is found dead in his pool, it’s time for the funeral. He hosted so many lavish parties and made numerous socialite friends throughout his life. And despite all that, none of them shows up to the funeral. The only ones present are the narrator, Jay’s father, and a guy known as “Owl Eyes.” All of those superficial people disregard him as soon as he couldn’t be useful anymore. Gatsby’s behavior and the fake promises of success led him to this point. His focus on an unachievable goal and the wealthy lifestyle has left him without real human connections. There was nobody who could truly understand him. Beneath the pretty promises of a perfect life lies lonely unhappiness.
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