Ani Greenspan Mr.

Boland October 18,2012 The Great Gatsby Success and Immorality: Are they mutually exclusive in the American Dream? Written in the novel, War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy asked, How can one be well when one suffers morally? That question along with many others is alluded to throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. To be more specific, Meyer Wolfsheim, a known gangster of the 1920s, helps develop the idea of whether the successes that one may obtain are truly successes if they are acquired in an immoral fashion. The American Dream is a reoccurring topic throughout the novel. The American Dream is an ideal in which the idealist strives to achieve happiness and success while gaining power and wealth. Meyer Wolfsheim achieves his idea of the American Dream, but his immoral lifestyle highlights that being successful is more important than being moral in the 1920s.

To begin, Meyer Wolfsheim is introduced as a crooked man. After meeting Meyer at lunch, Nick, the narrator, questions Gatsby his about his long-time friend, Who is he anyhowan actor? No. A dentist? Meyer Wolfsheim? No, hes a gambler. Gatsby hesitated, then added coolly: Hes the man who fixed the Worlds Series back in 1919 (73). From this first impression of Mr.

Wolfsheim, the reader understands that he is a felonious character. In addition to learning a little bit about his lifestyle, his description proves that he is very successful in what he does. Fitzgerald describes Meyer through Gatsby as, a smart man (73). Although Meyer does not have the ideal lifestyle, due to his gangster-like qualities, he proves to be living his version of the American Dream. He is content with the fact that he participates in illegal practices. He is proud that he is able to cheat his way through his life. In the eyes of Meyer Wolfsheim, he views the partnership that him and Gatsby share as profound. It is exemplified because he is willing to get other people involved to order to increase his wealth. The American Dream has a lot to do with gaining wealth and power and this is how Meyer Wolfsheim proves that his idea of the American Dream is definitely accomplished.

In addition to the American Dream focusing on material wealth, it has a lot to do with looking toward the future. At first, Wolfsheim seems like a sentimental person, specifically when talking about the old Metropole, filled with faces dead and gone Filled with friends gone now and forever(73). Throughout the novel though, it becomes clear that Wolfsheim does not cling to the past; he keeps his dreams directed toward the future. This quality allows Wolfsheims American Dream to be reached. To be clearer, Wolfsheim proves that he is able to move on from the past when Gatsby dies. On page 172, he describes his feelings on Gatsbys death by saying, "show friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead After that, my own rule is to let everything alone." (172). This

shows not only that Wolfsheim was quite a heartless person, but also he paid no attention to his friends. Any normal person would be morning the death of a close friend, like Gatsby, but Wolfsheim proves that he is unmoral by showing no remorse for the lost life of his friend; he didnt even go to Gatsbys funeral! Unlike Gatsby, whose desire of the past lead to his demise, Wolfsheims success is directly related to how he achieves the American Dream through his outlook on the future and insight on reality.

It seems as though Wolfsheim has fully achieved success through his life as a mob-member, gangster and gambler, but his immorality is a main reason as to why people question his success. Another factor in the American Dream has to do with power, and how others perceive you. It is obvious that Meyer Wolfsheim is viewed as a notorious character in the novel. Tom Buchannan, an old-money character portrays Wolfsheim as the following, "and this Wolfsheim [of buying] up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and [selling] grain alcohol over the counter" (133). The novel takes place during the Roaring Twenties, a time when it was illegal to sell, manufacture, or import, wine, beer and hard liquor. Wolfsheim was known in the community for taking part in distributing these illegal beverages. It is important to realize, that even though Wolfsheim takes part in these risky and illegal acts, he is used to being precarious. He is a gangster, a gambler; that is what he does for a living, and it is all that he knows. It brings him happiness to be wealthy, and he has fame and power amongst his businessmen. Even though the community as a whole may look down upon him

and those similar to him, Wolfsheim proves that even though he is going against the tradition morals of America, he is living out his American Dream. Throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby, it becomes clear that immorality can be a contributing factor in ones ability to become successful, even though they may be looked down upon. This is emphasized through the character of Meyer Wolfsheim, because it shows that no matter how someone becomes wealthy, prosperous and powerful, as long as they do so, they have achieved success. While the American Dream contains many different factors including obtaining wealth and power, each person defines what the American Dream means to them. So, even though the American Dream is a central goal among a common people, it is achieved individually. Significantly, Wolfsheim proves that he was hungry for money; he didnt care about how he achieved it, as though as he received it. America no longer had the morals that kept the American Dream a positive thought. Therefore, the American Dream began turning into an American Nightmare.