"Gatsby is said to be not quite credible for Gatsby, divided between power and dream, comes to inevitability to stand for America itself." This statement is true, but only from the viewpoint that its basic premise is correct.

"Gatsby is said to be not quite credible for Gatsby, divided between power and dream, comes to inevitability to stand for America itself." This statement is true, but only from the viewpoint that its basic premise is correct. Gatsby isn't credible as a character if he comes to stand "for America itself", true, but I believe that Gatsby represents the American Dream. James Gatz is America. Jay Gatsby is the reincarnation of the idealism of the early pioneers. This is because Gatsby, like the Dream, stems from an idealist's 'platonic self-conception'. When the Dutch pioneers first saw America, they saw "a fresh green breast of the new world ... face to face ... with something commensurate to [their] capacity for wonder.". This New World was huge and full of possibilities for the pioneers - this is the same way James Gatz sees the world through his 17-year old eyes. This New World, however, was so full of possibilities that their path must be cautiously plotted to achieve maximum fulfilment from the new Continent. And so, the American Dream is born. Success and pleasure in a classless society are its primary components. History repeats itself with James Gatz (as history is wont to do) as he meticulously carves his life out of the edifice of endless possibility his young mind perceives ahead of him. The carving takes the shape of Jay Gatsby, and Gatz is well pleased. The carving,

  • Word count: 908
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

"How do the values and attitudes of the Great Gatsby reflect the American Dream".

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald A-Level English Literature : Ed Gillett - October 13, 1997 "How do the values and attitudes of the Great Gatsby reflect the American Dream" "Out of a misty dream, our path emerges for a while, then closes within a dream" - Norman Douglas (1862-1958) In "The Great Gatsby" F. Scott Fitzgerald has created a social satire of America in the 1920's in which he exposes the American Dream as being inherently flawed and merely an illusion produced by idealism. This American Dream has been traditionally associated with the pursuit of freedom and equality. It can be traced back to the original settlers and the hope which the New World brought to them, away from the persecution inflicted by their religion. Essentially it offered the fulfilment of human desire for spiritual and material improvement. However, what became quickly apparent was that the materialistic side of the dream was achieved to quickly and easily and outpaced the spiritualistic development. A state of materialistic well being emerged, but lacking in spiritual life or purpose. Throughout "The Great Gatsby" we, the audience, are made aware of the flaws of the American Dream through the values and attitudes of the western society. Although the dream has established progress, prosperity and democratic principles, there is still rife class conflicts, corruption and exploitation.

  • Word count: 1657
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

"I don't see any 'American Dream'. I see an American nightmare" - Malcolm X.

"I don't see any 'American Dream'. I see an American nightmare" - Malcolm X Malcolm X sounds rather harsh, futile and far from what most of us conjure up in our minds when we think of the phrase the 'American Dream', so what exactly is this 'American Dream' that every other person seems to be having on the tip of their tongues? Webster's New World College Dictionary defines it as the "ideal according to which equality of opportunity, hard work and perseverance permits any American to aspire to high attainment and material success." This we see from the very first colonists and settlers in the 16th century who wanted freedom from oppression right up to the current inflow of immigrants searching for new and better opportunities. This so called 'American Dream' has become an integral part of the American culture and Americans seem to have become obsessed with wanting to make this dream a reality. Kurt Vonnegut, the American novelist in his book God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater says, "The 'American Dream' has turned belly up, turned green, bobbed to the scummy surface of cupidity unlimited, filled with gas, and went bang in the noonday sun" and Barbara Jordan a former US Congresswoman in her keynote address at the Democratic National Convention echoed the same sentiment when she said, "The 'American Dream' ... is gasping for breath". With the ever-growing social inequality and

  • Word count: 1251
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

"Gatsby is a Victim of the American Dream." Discuss Scott Fitzgerald's Portrayal of Gatsby in the light of this Statement.

A history of American literature - Richard gray Lois Tyson- critical theory today "Gatsby is a Victim of the American Dream." Discuss Scott Fitzgerald's Portrayal of Gatsby in the light of this Statement. Victim (n) . One who is harmed or killed by another: a victim of a mugging. 2. A living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice during a religious rite. 3. One who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition: victims of war. 4. A person who suffers injury, loss, or death as a result of a voluntary undertaking: You are a victim of your own scheming. 5. A person who is tricked, swindled, or taken advantage of: the victim of a cruel hoax (dictionary.com) The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald illustrates many themes, however the most significant one relates to the American Dream and the corruption of this. Throughout this novel we see how the dream has been corrupted by the greedy pursuit of wealth. The American dream is great motivation for accomplishing goals and producing achievements, however when tainted with wealth, the dream becomes worthless and hollow. In the Great Gatsby we see Jay Gatsby's attempt at trying to live the life of the American dream, we see his victimization, and his battle. Yet the American Dream involves more than the social and economical standings of an individual, the dream involves a large

  • Word count: 2607
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

So in turn, the pursuit of happiness through perfection is a plan destined for failure. The last two pages in The Great Gatsby are exemplary of this idea.

Life, amongst other things, is full of grandeur and spectacle. It is only inevitable then, that human beings will be in pursuit of this, driven by the desire to have the quintessential lifestyle. But it is this desire to live in the ideal that hinders them from truly being happy. For while happiness is possible, perfection is not. So in turn, the pursuit of happiness through perfection is a plan destined for failure. The last two pages in The Great Gatsby are exemplary of this idea. The unknown character at the end of the book who "had been away at the ends of the earth and didn't know that the party was over" is representative of human beings immersed in a lifestyle that was only grandeur and spectacle, and nothing else. There was never any real significance or importance to the big house, the parties, cars etc. These were only used to satisfy a need for splendor, to prove that human beings were only a few steps away from the ideal. Which is of course, a flawed plan, as the ending of the book shows. The whole purpose of the parties was to lure Daisy into going to Gatsby's house so she could fall in love with her or he could "have her." But she never does fall in love with Gatsby and he never "has her". Daisy was just another goal to accomplish for Gatsby, just another extravagance to immerse himself in. The house then, like the pursuit of the ideal is flawed from the very

  • Word count: 1286
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

"The character of Jay Gatsby symbolises the corruption of the American Dream in 'The Great Gatsby.'"- To what extent do you agree with this statement?

"The character of Jay Gatsby symbolises the corruption of the American Dream in 'The Great Gatsby.'" - To what extent do you agree with this statement? "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by God, Creator, with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This is a dream. It's a great dream." Martin Luther King, Jr As evident in the words of Martin Luther King Jr, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are key aspects of the life of any human being. This American dream is a major preoccupation throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, 'The Great Gatsby', and is no more apparent in any feature than in the character of Jay Gatsby. When studying literature, we often search for an extraordinary character. Jay Gatsby, has such a unique personality that narrator Nick Carraway, feels he may never again find a person similar to Gatsby. Throughout the novel, Gatsby remains determined in his goal to reunite with Daisy. His love and passion for the pursuit of a dream never subside, and his true dedication to Daisy and eventual self sacrifice highlight the strength of his character. In a time when the economy was thriving, and lifestyles were extreme, the contemporary scene, the extravagance of Gatsby's parties, the superficiality of the guests, and the hint of Gatsby's

  • Word count: 2004
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Comment on the way Fitzgerald communicates Gatsby’s character to the reader. How important is Nick as narrator to this process?

"Comment on the way Fitzgerald communicates Gatsby's character to the reader. How important is Nick as narrator to this process?" From the beginning of the novel, our views and opinions of Gatsby are refracted through Nick. We know very little about Gatsby, and we are unable to find out anything about him, without the information being filtered by Nick. Nick is very important to us, as readers, as we get all our information through him. We are led to believe that our narrator is a trustworthy character, "I'm inclined to reserve all judgements." However, what we actually get is a biased view, especially as Nick had become such a good friend to Gatsby, "Gatsby turned out alright in the end." He said. Nick hated everything that Gatsby stood for, so it is naïve for us to believe that we would get a truthful account of Gatsby's nature and lifestyle. However, even though originally Nick disliked what Gatsby stood for, he fell in love with his disposition, " - it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such that I had never found in any other person and which it is likely that I shall ever find again." When we first encounter Gatsby, it is a recollection of Nick's first sighting of him. Gatsby is standing outside his house, staring over the bay at a green light, which we later find out is the light at the end of the jetty, which belongs to Daisy and Tom. At

  • Word count: 456
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

F.S. Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby.

F.S. Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby I would like to start my essay with the short summary of the plot of The Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, has moved from the Midwest to New York. He wants to become a stockbroker to be rich. His cousin Daisy, who is married to Tom Buchanan, also lives in New York. One day Nick is invited to the party of his neighbour, Jay Gatsby. From the moment he hears about Gatsby, he is very inquisitive. After their first conversation, a friendship begins to be built. Nick is a very nice person and he becomes a kind of confessor for many people. He learns a lot about the other people's secrets. Nick learns about the Daisy's and Gatsby's past relationship and about their braking up because of their different social level. On the other hand, Nick learns about the relationship of Tom Buchanan and Myrtle that is going on behind Daisy's back. One day, Nick meets Jordan Baker who tells him the truth about the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. Jordan explains to Nick that Gatsby is still very much in love with Daisy and that he wants her back. However, Gatsby needs Nick's help. On Gatsby's request, Nick invites Daisy to his house where Gatsby and Daisy finally meets again. They fall in love for the second time. Daisy oddly seems to be won over by the number of the shirts that Gatsby owns. Tom starts to be very suspicious. Gatsby

  • Word count: 1630
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

The Great Gatsby by F.S Fitzgerald epitomizes the 1920's.

The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby by F.S Fitzgerald epitomizes the 1920's, Jazz age an era which saw a time of great economic prosperity, a time of jazz bands and parties but also a time of much corruption. There was a legal ban on intoxicating drinks and homemade alcohol from bathtubs was of poor quality so there was a huge market for organised crime. The liquor was sold around the back of drug stores or speakeasies, which was used as a front for the illegal activities. The criminals acquired the name of bootleggers and made a fortune selling alcohol, which was served at many of the richer parties. Women also enjoyed a much less restricted lifestyle with newfound freedom; they went to parties wearing skimpy, elegant, sexy and flamboyant dresses. Women were given the right to vote and it became fashionable to act masculine, hair and dresses were shortened and women began to smoke in public. A romantic image of the 1920's may have included flappers, pin stripe suits, Model T's and the Charleston but corruption and crime was rife in an era that was not as romantic as it seemed. The Great Gatsby is both a criticism of the period of social change that was the jazz age and a symbol of the development of the American social identity, including the changing beliefs of the American dream. Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby severely criticizes the Jazz Age, a period of social change

  • Word count: 1923
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

How far do you consider Gatsby to be the epitome of the American Dream and its failure

How far do you consider Gatsby to be the epitome of the American Dream and its failure The Great Gatsby is a book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is set in the nineteen twenties in the unique narrative style which is that he is writing about a fictional character called Nick Carraway writing a book about a man called Jay Gatsby who he feels was a man " who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. Gatsby is a very rich yet contradictory character, He is portrayed throughout the novel as being heroic person because during the war her received a medal from "every allied country" the medal symbolizes some of the best and most noble traits of human nature such as valour, honor and bravery but in an extreme case of dramatic irony such a heroic man he cannot raise the courage to engage Daisy. Another side of Gatsby's contradictory nature is the idealistic way he chases Daisy as well as the fulfillment of his dream yet he is extremely reckless in the way he confronts Tom and lets Tom release the figurative ghosts that are Gatsby's past life especially his criminal activities. Maybe Fitzgerald designed Nick's view of Gatsby in such a way that he is mocking him and the American dream. Many critics don't view Gatsby in this way; they see him as a criminal who obtained wealth through crime and contacts more commonly associated with the gangster era in the 1960's.

  • Word count: 1401
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay