What is the American Dream?

The idea of the American Dream runs all through the novel, that is why I find it necessary to dwell on it.

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.

The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The term “American dream” is used in many ways, but it essentially is an idea that suggests that anyone in the US can succeed through hard work and has the potential to lead a happy, successful life. Many people have expanded upon or refined the definition to include things such as freedom, fulfillment and meaningful relationships. Someone who manages to achieve his or her version of the American dream is often said to be “living the dream.” This concept has been subject to criticism, because some people believe that the structure of society in the US prevents such an idealistic goal for everyone. Critics often point to examples of inequality rooted in class, race, religion and ethnicity that suggest that the American dream is not attainable for everyone.

History

The idea of an American dream is older than the US, dating to the 1600s, when people began to have all sorts of hopes and aspirations for what was a new and largely unexplored continent to European immigrants. Many of these dreams focused on owning land and establishing a prosperous business that — theoretically, at least — would increase one's happiness. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, authors often wrote about the idealistic American dream, somewhat codifying the concept and entrenching it in American society.

Stereotypical Dream

The dream for Americans is often portrayed as being perfectly average. For example, some people might say that it is being married, having two children and living in a three-bedroom home with a white picket fence. Rather than being based on great wealth or success, this version of the dream might be based more on avoiding things such as poverty and loneliness.

Improving Upon the Past

Some people say that the American dream represents the desire to live a better life than the previous generation did — and that there is a legitimate opportunity for this to happen. The desire among many parents is for their children to lead happy lives. This is especially true among immigrants, because many of them fled extremely difficult circumstances in their native countries.

 Criticisms

The idealistic vision of the American dream often disregards discrimination based on a person's race, religion, gender and national origin, which might inhibit his or her ability to achieve specific goals. Critics also point out that many versions of the dream equate prosperity with happiness, and that happiness is possible without wealth or even in poverty. To some people, the American dream might be more about personal fulfillment than about economic success or owning property.

In order to better understand the origins of this dream and its role in our history, we need only look at on object the Americans use every day: their money.
 Examining the US dollar bill, we see three mottos written on the seal. One of these is “E pluribus unum,” which means “Out of many, one.” This is the classic idea of democracy handed down to us from ancient Greece, the idea of uniting a diversity of people into the single entity of a nation. This idea is common to all democratic nations and is not unique to the United States. However, the next motto, “Novus Ordo Seclorum” (“A new order of the ages”) brings us closer to the idea of the American Dream. The United States was founded not merely because of colonists' disputes with Britain over taxes, but on ideas of justice and liberty. In declaring independence from Britain and later drafting the world's first written constitution, the founding fathers were essentially creating a new nation from scratch, a new order. This required a great deal of optimism, imagination, determination, and indeed a great deal of dreaming. However, it is the last motto - “Annuit Coeptis”- that most clearly reveals the American Dream at its essence. Translated into English, it means, “He has favored our endeavors,” and this “He” is implied to mean God. Needless to say, this motto is perplexing and indeed more than a little disturbing, for it implies that there is something exceptional about the United States, that all the actions there have some sort of divine sanction. And while the US is by no means the only nation in the history of the world to have held this belief, it has perhaps taken it to heart more than most others.
 Far from being a simple desire for riches or advancement, the American Dream is a complex phenomenon that has produced many reactions and counter-reactions in people. In the last century it led some people to support and give their lives in a very controversial, war—the Vietnam War—and inspired others to march in protest of that same war. It has led some to ignore questions of ethics in their pursuit of wealth and fame, while it has led others to devote their lives to the task of making a difference in their country and the world. It is the dream of Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel and also the dream of Martin Luther King. It may be interpreted in hundreds of ways, criticized, rejected or pursued. But, no one can question that it is an integral part of American culture's foundation and invariably is here to stay.

Great Gatsby and The American Dream

Throughout American history the idea of progress had persisted as a national destiny and a personal dream. Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby the main character, Jay Gatsby, relentlessly strives to achieve this surreal and unattainable dream. The “American Dream,” is full of hope that the past can be left behind and that a new world can be born. Stories of “rags-to-riches” provide optimism, and are a favourite among the young and aspiring. The American dream involves acquiring material wealth, cars, and admiration of others. In the dream, prosperity will bring happiness, fulfillment, and power.

For the most part, Gatsby has already achieved the majority of a classic “American Dream” when the novel starts. The only thing he lacks is the warmth of a wife who loves him and adoring children to come home to. The American dream includes both financial success and a cozy hearth at home. In spite of his success, Gatsby’s one true desire, the attainment of Daisy Buchanan, has not yet been fulfilled. Aware of this major shortcoming, Gatsby becomes recklessly obsessed and single-mindedly determined to acquire that which he naively hopes all his money will buy him. Those obsessed with money and power are often oblivious to the reality that money can buy companionship, but it can’t buy love. He becomes willing to sacrifice anything in hopes of conquering the one thing which he cannot have.

Gatsby’s obsession begins to drive him away from reality as Daisy becomes more and more a desire of his greedy heart. Gatsby’s “love” is not focused on what he can give to Daisy, but on how he can make her one of his possessions. As the novel progresses, Gatsby seems to realize that his idea and pursuit of Daisy is more rewarding than the actual attainment of her. Just as reading a good book is better than watching the movie version of it, it is more interesting and exciting for Gatsby to use his imagination in fantasizing his life with Daisy. He recognizes that he has created an ideal for Daisy to live up to. Gatsby remains fully committed to his aspirations, and is completely devastated by the reality that no matter what he does, Daisy will never be one of his belongings. As Gatsby gets to know Daisy, her imperfections and carelessness become obvious but he denies reality. Perhaps on a subconscious level he sees that the dream truly is far better than reality. Yet, in his mind he has still failed for the first time in his astonishingly successful career, and is forced to deal with the fact that he simply cannot and will never be able to possess Daisy to the degree he desires.

The green light at the end of Buchanans’ dock symbolizes Gatsby’s most unfathomable aspiration; the prize of Daisy’s love and companionship. The light is a constant reminder of Daisy and her unclaimed love. The light however does not always bring hope and optimism to Gatsby. When Gatsby goes to show Daisy the light and a heavy fog hides it, Nick perceives, “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever? Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one.” The obviousness of both Daisy and Gatsby’s selfish existence, and the reality that only genuine love truly brings happiness in life, gradually dawn on Nick as the book progresses.

As history shows the American Dream very rarely becomes a reality. The murder of Gatsby is not only a literal death, but is also symbolic of the demise of the ultimate American idealist. Gatsby was a firm believer in self-made success. He had not only constructed a completely fresh persona for himself, but had also been extremely successful in achieving wealth and high ranking social status. In the eyes of many, Gatsby would have been considered fortunate and privileged because of his lifestyle. Yet, his life could not have been less happy. The fact that he had it all, except for the one thing that he truly wanted, drove him to misery.

http://www.inforefuge.com/demise-of-american-dream-the-great-gatsby