Who Has Achieved the American Dream in The Great Gatsby?

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel set in the 1920s that depicts the story of a young and wealthy man named Jay Gatsby who was obsessed with the idea of achieving the American Dream. The American Dream is the popular belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination.

The characters in The Great Gatsby come from different backgrounds and have different aspirations. Some of them have achieved the American Dream while others have failed to do so. Let’s take a closer look at these characters and their respective journeys towards the American Dream.

Jay Gatsby

Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the novel, is a self-made millionaire who has achieved the American Dream. He came from a poor family and worked hard to accumulate his wealth. He used his resources to create an extravagant and luxurious lifestyle that attracted many people, especially Daisy Buchanan, his true love. However, Gatsby’s wealth was built on illegal activities, and he ultimately lost everything he had worked for.

Daisy Buchanan

Daisy Buchanan, the love interest of Jay Gatsby, is another character who has achieved the American Dream. She comes from a wealthy family and has always been surrounded by luxury and opulence. She is married to Tom Buchanan, a man who also comes from a wealthy family. Despite her affluence, Daisy is disillusioned and unfulfilled, and ultimately fails to find happiness.

Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s abusive and manipulative husband, has also achieved the American Dream. He was born into wealth and privilege and has always had everything he ever wanted. He inherited his family’s fortune and uses it to maintain his lavish lifestyle. Tom is arrogant and believes that he is superior to others, but his wealth and power cannot protect him from the consequences of his actions.

Myrtle Wilson

Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan’s mistress, is a character who has failed to achieve the American Dream. She is married to George Wilson, a man who owns an auto repair shop and is struggling to make ends meet. Myrtle is unhappy with her life and sees Tom as her ticket to a better life. However, she is killed in a car accident that was caused by Daisy, and her dreams of a better future are shattered.

George Wilson

George Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, is another character who has failed to achieve the American Dream. He is a hardworking man who is struggling to provide for his wife and himself. He learns about his wife’s affair with Tom and is devastated. He later kills Gatsby, mistaking him for the person who killed his wife. George’s life is ruined, and he never achieves the success and prosperity he hoped for.

In conclusion, The Great Gatsby is a novel that explores the different ways in which people can achieve or fail to achieve the American Dream. While some characters like Gatsby and Daisy have achieved it, others such as George and Myrtle have not. The novel demonstrates how the American Dream can be both fulfilling and destructive and how it can lead people to pursue their desires at any cost.