Assessment: How does Fitzgerald portrays The American Dream in the novel?

The well-known novel The Great Gatsby reveals a major theme The American Dream. Several
other themes such as Decadence and Materialism and Past and future are also related to The
American Dream, which plays a significant role in the novel as it indicates Gatsby's desire of being
part of the upper social class, and Daisy as his motivation, who is an embodiment of The American
Dream. Fitzgerald presents the theme of the American Dream in the novel through the use of
settings, use of language and literary devices to convey Gatsbys dedication to achieve his goals of
the pursuit of consumerism and rise of wealth, also looking at how the American in the 1920s in
New York City are obsessed with the idea of money and social status.

Firstly, Fitzgeralds use of visual imagery in the description of Tom and Gatsbys houses reveal the
social status and wealth the Americans are possessed of in the 1920s, representing the American
Dream that people at the time sought to achieve. The physical surroundings of Toms house evoke
a luxurious feeling with the lawn started at the beach...toward the front door and reflected gold
French windows in Nicks description. The use of colour gold refers to the quality and expense
involved in the atmosphere of the Toms house. On the other hand, Gatsbys spanking new
mansion is described as a colossal affair by any standard, which emphasises his intention to
show off his wealth. Nicks first perspective of description is seen when he thinks Tom and Daisys
house is more elaborated than he expected. Later, descriptions are in more objective
perspective when Fitzgeralds use of language describes the physical surroundings of the houses.
A combination of both objective and subjective descriptions further enhances the fanciness and
lavishness everywhere in and out of the two houses, which is more persuasive to the readers and
illustrates the idea of the pursuit of consumerism and wealth that reveals the theme of the
American Dream. Fitzgerald portrays the American Dream through the extravagant atmosphere in
the settings of the houses that depicts the idea of consumerism and high quality lifestyles for Tom
and Gatsby that reveals their high social status.

Secondly, Fitzgeralds use of foreshadowing suggests Gatsbys inability of achieving his American
Dream when he reaches out to the green light, which is in sight but out of reach that locates at the
end of the dock of Tom and Daisys house. Fitzgerald put his focus on Gatsbys secured position
on his lawn of the mansion stretching out his arms to the green light in the quiet night. The
symbolic colour green is a significant symbol as it is associated with envy, which is how people
lose what they originally have in order to achieve their American Dream of pursuing wealth and
social status by the rise of consumerism. Green is also the colour of the American Money in 1920s,
conveying a scene when Gatsby intends to reach out to American Money, which is the idea of rise
of wealth and is part of his American Dream. The fact that the green light is on the dock of Daisys
and Toms house, emphasises that Gatsby associates the green light with Daisy. The green light is
often described as seemingly close but Gatsby just cannot reach out to the light and hold it. The
inability of grasping it foreshadows his inability of achieving his American Dream. This explains
how Gatsby cannot grasp hold of Daisy and this is also applied to his American Dream, as it
suggest he will never be able to truly grasp it either. Through describing Gatsby looking at the
green light, Fitzgerald suggests his possession of the idea of wealth and social status, and
achieving his American Dream to be part of the upper class.

Thirdly, Fitzgeralds use of visual imagery in the descriptions depicts the extravagant lifestyles of
the New Money in order to show off his wealth, and explains his desire of the pursuit of
consumerism, which is the American Dream. Gatsby reveals the idea of materialism when there
are many decorations and food in the parties held every night. The food are provided and Every
Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York, which explains the
source of the food is New York and they were transported every week. And even there are butler
that presses a button and extract the juice of two hundred oranges. Fitzgerald presents that
Gatsbys pursuit of consumerism is what everyone wants to achieve in the 1920s, even the guest
in the parties. Fitzgerald described the guests as moths instead of other similar types of insects
because moths are attracted to lights, which are the lights in the gorgeous parties; moths are
ephemeral creatures that have a very short lifespan, which emphasises how the people were not
invited and they still came and went without having met Gatsby at all. These guests are all from
the upper class and they enjoy the idea of materialism and the extravagant lifestyles revealed in
the party, which of how the New Money shows of the wealth. Gatsby opens up different parties
for different people from the upper class reveals his desire to achieve his American Dream and his
way of displaying his wealth and social status to the crowd.

Fourthly, Fitzgeralds use of narrative technique portrays the corruption of Gatsbys American
Dream when Tom spoils to everyone about Gatsbys illegal businesses and real Past life events
during their confrontation in New York City. As Gatsby mentioned he cant really call himself an
Oxford man because he only stayed there five months unlike what he said before that he is
educated in Oggsford. The fact that Gatsby lies about his education and hides his business
trades emphasises how he wants to achieve his American Dream by being part of the upper class
and is over possessed about the rise of wealth when trading illegal businesses related to
Wolfshiem. Therefore, he made up everything about his education and family background
mentioning his education in Oxford is a family tradition. In addition, when Tom and Gatsby starts
a confrontation Tom explodes and thinks what Gatsby said Daisy only loved him is crazy. He
cannot promise "what happened five years ago but he is sure Daisy loved him when she
married him and loves him now. His attitude depicts the idea that Daisys love is a possession to
Tom. This explains how Daisy is an embodiment of the American Dream, and Tom and Gatsby are
similar to everyone in New York City that was possessed to the idea of the dream just like how the
two of them were possessed of Daisy, explaining how people are similar to Tom and Gatsby, who
thinks the pursuit of wealth and consumerism is what they own.

Last but not least, Fitzgerald portrays the impacts of achieving the American Dream through the
use of motif related to the Geography presented by East Egg, West Egg and The Valley of Ashes.
Eggs are usually seen easily broken and the fragile shells will break down at last in order to get
the egg cooked. This explains how the word egg in the name of both West Egg and East Egg
depicts the idea that the American Dream is fragile and easily destroyed. In the West Egg, the
people are possessed to the pursuit of consumerism and rise of wealth, which Fitzgerald gives a
clear condemned of the result of perceiving to be the manners of rich and excessive consumerism.
On the other hand, the ones in the East Egg like Daisy were not responsible with what they have
done and let others take the blame whenever they did something wrong, which Fitzgerald also
explains the result of destruction of the American Dream. And for the Valley of Ashes, the people
like Mrs. Wilson would always dream of being part of upper class, but they will never achieve the
dream and Fitzgerald explains the destruction of the American Dream by her death at last.

In conclusion, we see how Fitzgeralds use of literary devices and use of language helps to convey
the corruption of Gatsbys American Dream by the contrast of his dream and reality. Fitzgerald has
been influential with his descriptive language and shows great concern to portray the American
Dream throughout the novel 'The Great Gatsby'. Throughout the whole novel we see how Gatsby
and the Americans in the 1920s are chained to his ideas of the American Dream that cannot be
achieved, and that trying very hard to achieve an impossible dream is too ridiculous.