The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1355 Words

Most define the American Dream as an equal opportunity for all to achieve success through handwork and determination. Many define success as having or gaining wealth and power. This isn t true for the novel The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Instead Fitzgerald represents the withering of the American Dream, in the novel the American Dream is presented more as a overpowering idea of aspirations far from reach, making it less of a dream and more of a distant thought. Throughout the novel Fitzgerald slowly deconstructs the image of the American Dream and builds upon the corrupting nature of wealth. Due to the corrupting nature of wealth we are able to identify the theme of the withering American Dream, which is being represented through†¦show more content†¦At the first party we are introduced to in the novel, the narrator of the novel, Nick Carraway, is formally invited to it. This is highly unusual because most of Gatsby guests just show up. Throughout the night Nick hea rs different stories of Gatsby, and doesn t recognize Gatsby when having a conversation with him. Nick characterizes Gatsby as such, He smiled understandingly- much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or fives times in life. It faced-or seemed to face-the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that is had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. Precisely at that point it vanished-and I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I d got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care.† (Fitzgerald 52-53) Th is is the first time we actually get to meet Gatsby. It presents Gatsby in his wealthy element and gives him a sense of pride and strength. It shows Gatsby living the American Dream, being surrounded by all the power and wealth.