to his downfall, ultimately proving that the American Dream is not all about material wealth and status. Rather, it is about the pursuit of happiness and the ability to achieve one's goals through hard work and determination. The American dream is not a guarantee of success, but rather a promise of opportunity. It is up to the individual to seize this opportunity and make the most of it. valid. Since Prohibition was in effect, drinking alcohol has been illegal, but that doesn't stop these parties from providing it. Gatsby is able to obtain alcohol because he is a bootlegger. He does this for two reasons: to achieve higher social status and to make money. Gatsby wants to become rich to impress Daisy. By doing this illegally, it reveals that he is not willing to work hard and would rather cheat to succeed. Alberto Lena expands on this topic by saying: "In fact, money earned without work was an invitation to corruption in the eyes of a republican nation, and hereditary wealth was assumed to have caused the decline of Europe" (41 ). People who earn their money by cheating are doomed to corruption. Gatsby himself is left with nothing at the end of the novel. The original definition of the American Dream presupposes that an individual is only successful if they earn their money through hard work. In the 1920s, people would do almost anything to improve their standing in society, even if it was illegal. This reveals that the American dream was dead because the original definition linked to the concept was no longer valid. unattainable dream. Tom and Daisy Buchanan are a perfect example of what happens to people who get too caught up in materialism and status. Throughout the novel, Nick begins to despise his cousins. As Fitzgerald writes: “They were carefree people, Tom and Daisy – they broke things and creatures, then retreated into their money or their great carelessness, or whatever it was that held them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. had done…” (179). Although they seem to have a perfect life, Tom and Daisy are deeply unhappy, both individually and in their relationship. They are corrupt, like many others in society, and sacrifice their chance for true happiness in favor of a lavish lifestyle. The most important aspect of the American dream is happiness, which Tom and Daisy are far from achieving. It reveals their failure, like many others, to truly achieve the American dream. The introduction of the American Dream created high expectations for an individual's future years and gave society a vision of how they wanted their lives to unfold. Gatsby is undoubtedly one of these individuals, and the green light on Daisy's platform represents his unattainable dream..