There is also the example of the Buchanan house, there is similar evidence again of extravagant lifestyle with a ‘sunken Italian garden, a half acre of pungent roses and a snub nosed motor boat’. Such possessions are clearly only a way of establishing the relative wealth of the Buchanans in materialistic form. Tom’s references to his house help to reinforce this when he says; “I’ve got a nice place here”. Tom provides his own compliments, but has expressed an acknowledgement of his wealth rather than an acknowledgement of the satisfaction that he gets from it (this is similar to Gatsby’s swimming pool).
It is through such an attitude where we begin to see the moral corruption of the American Dream taking place. The materialistic part of the dream has been happened but the actual appreciation of what you have has disappeared and any generosity has turned into greed.
The material wealth that Gatsby’s mansion represents also forms the location for a series of lavish parties. Whilst the parties are attended by all manner of people from both East and West Egg, this is not because of his popularity among society, in fact few people who were at the parties with Nick Carraway, had been invited or even met their host. Those who had met him were filled with malicious gossip against him: “a German spy during the war”, “I bet he killed a man”.
Shown to us through the view of Nick Carraway, the parties act as a way to expose the values and attitudes of the society that the characters in the novel live in. Through the interesting variety of society that is present at the parties, a common theme becomes obvious: the artificial, insincere and hollow nature of the guests themselves.
We have already touched upon the disrespect that is shown towards Gatsby as the host of the parties, only Nick shows a genuine desire to meet Gatsby out of courtesy. If other guests are asked if they knew the whereabouts of the host they “stared at him in such an amazed way”. Nick himself had established when among the many people at his arrival to the party, “few of the guests had actually been invited”. You might ask why Gatsby allowed this to occur; it was in the doomed hope that Daisy Buchanan would one day arrive at one of the parties. In a way, Gatsby’s idealism was the cause of the parties and the parties themselves entertained the wrestles rich.
Guests at the party seem determined to put Gatsby down, there were accusations of illegal activities and involvement with Germany during the war which both show how the American Dream has failed Gatsby. There is another example of how Gatsby’s possessions are more for show (in his case to prove to Daisy he is worthy of her) than his enjoyment. Although the many books in his library are “Absolutely real-have pages and everything.” they had never been read and were just there for show. What is important is the fact that although he never reads them they are real all the same (he could have had fake books). Gatsby is judged on his outward appearances only and maybe it is not the fault of the person for arriving at such a conclusion. What is to blame is the failure of the American Dream. If people know nothing about Gatsby why should they assume that the books are not real? “I thought they would be a nice durable cardboard” This was the reaction by a man in the library. The American Dream has produced a world dominated by material wealth.
Gatsby’s success in achieving material wealth however has not achieved its initial goal, in that Gatsby’s wealth has not been able to buy back Daisy. The pursuit of wealth is fuelled by Gatsby’s idealism and doomed hope that Daisy would return to him if he were to match the wealth of the man she married, irrespective of the fact that she is married. Similarly in the case of Myrtle Wilson whose affair with Tom Buchanan shows similar disregard for their respective marriages.
Myrtles affair and eventual tragic death are also directly linked with what I think is the flaw with the American Dream. In establishing an affair with Tom Buchanan she has also made an attempt to cross the class barrier, such an attempt can only fail with the emphashis which is placed upon class in society at that time. Although the American Dream had hoped to ultimately establish equality for all it had also attempted to improve materialistic wealth and well being. Although everyone had a job, everyone could have land, the American Dream didn’t realise the one problem associated with this: man’s greed to have more than any one else.
This desire for more, what has happened as a result of the American Dream, can also be seen in the corruption of society. Jordan Baker’s incident with the golf ball allegations shows how the desire for increased worth in society has driven Jordan to tarnish the honesty of society as a whole.
The American Dream in “The Great Gatsby” can therefore be viewed as essentially flawed. I would say it is common sense and that if one has more, another will have less and therefore The American Dream did nothing to aid class differences.
In such a light the American Dream is doomed to failure by a society torn apart by class and prejudice. The dream told through Jay Gatsby is similarly doomed to failure by society and ends tragically in Gatsby’s death. Myrtle’s husband’s vengeful act of murder can be thought of as a representation of class and Gatsby as the American Dream left to die among the most elaborate of his material possessions, the marble pool.
Idealism eventually destroyed by realism, the harsh reality of the American Dream is exposed through the fantastic way Fitzgerald portrays the theme of materialism and many others.
