IntroductionF. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story and a critical examination of the American dream. The American Dream is based on the belief that individuals, regardless of class, race, gender, or nationality, can succeed in the United States through hard work and perseverance. However, Fitzgerald's novel challenges this idealized view of America by exposing the flaws of the American dream. Despite its romanticization, the American dream fails to address systemic problems such as racism, misogyny, and income inequality that persist in developed countries. In this essay, we will explore how Fitzgerald suggests that the American dream is illusory and often leads to tragic consequences, as exemplified by the character Jay Gatsby. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The American Dream in the Novel The central character of The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, embodies the pursuit of the American dream. Born into poverty, Jay strives to achieve wealth and notoriety by partnering with millionaire Dan Cody. This idea of ​​success aligns with the underlying concept of the American Dream. Jay's motivation for wealth and success comes from his love for Daisy Buchanan. He believes that by succeeding, he can win Daisy's love and live happily ever after. For Jay, the American dream involves working hard, achieving success, and finding happiness in the process. However, despite Jay's immense wealth and success, he fails to win Daisy's love, leading to his untimely demise. Fitzgerald uses Jay's actions and desires to criticize the illusory nature of the American dream. Those who pursue this dream will always aspire for more, regardless of their success. Jay amasses great wealth, but he remains unsatisfied because his definition of success depends on winning Daisy's love. The pursuit of materialism does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment. Jay's incessant desire to know more and his attempts to climb the social ladder ultimately led to his downfall. Fitzgerald points out that the idea of ​​infinite success, as embodied in the American dream, is illusory. When Jay is introduced in the novel, he is portrayed as someone who is always looking for something beyond his reach. The narrator, Nick, describes Jay's desire by stating: "He stretched his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and as far away as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. . a single green light, minute and in the distance, it could have been the end of a dock" (Fitzgerald 20). This image of the distant green light is a symbol of the American dream. The promise of success through the accumulation of riches perpetuates the aspiration for more, even after reaching a certain level of success The green light remains constant, reminding Jay that he can accomplish more if he works harder The illusory nature of the American dream becomes evident when Jay. finally achieves the success he desires and discovers that the green light he fought for lies in Daisy. Jay's version of success, as defined by the American dream, is closely linked to winning the love of. Daisy However, when Jay finally finds Daisy, he doesn't realize that his dream has come true. The meaning of the green light disappears once he reaches it. Fitzgerald writes: “The colossal significance of that light was now gone forever...Now it was again a green light on a dock. His number of enchanted objects had decreased by one” (Fitzgerald 93). Through this passage, the author subtly criticizes the American dream, suggesting that itit is an illusion existing only in the minds of those who pursue it. Jay has achieved the green light he yearned for, but its meaning is lost and he desires more. This illustrates the nature of the American dream – the promise of success through materialism is empty and vague. Even after achieving wealth, success, and reuniting with Daisy, Jay remains unsatisfied, constantly seeking more. In this state of confusion, he begins to lose everything he has accumulated, which ultimately leads to his demise. Another aspect of the American dream presented in The Great Gatsby is the false belief that hard work and meritocracy guarantee success. Jay initially appears to have decoded the mystery behind the American dream. Although he was born into poverty, he becomes rich and successful through his hard work and determination. However, a closer look at Jay's life reveals a darker side to his success. He gains unscrupulous wealth through corruption and crime, contradicting the principles of hard work and honesty traditionally associated with the American dream. Although Jay initially tries to follow the path of hard work while working for Dan Cody, his time with Cody is abruptly cut short when Cody's wife steals his inheritance. As a result, Jay turns to a life of crime as the only means to achieve his imagined wealth. This aspect of Jay's story complicates the notion of the perfect embodiment of the American dream. It exposes the dream as illusory and unattainable for those who do not have access to the same opportunities or are forced to resort to unethical means to succeed. In addition to critiquing the illusory nature of the American dream, Fitzgerald also uses The Great Gatsby to shed light on systemic problems that persist in American society. The novel is set in the 1920s, a time of economic prosperity and social change, but also a time marked by deep-rooted racism, misogyny, and income inequality. Despite the American Dream's promise of equal opportunity for all, Fitzgerald shows that these systemic problems continue to hinder the achievement of true success and happiness. Racism is a pervasive theme in the novel, as exemplified by the character Tom Buchanan. Tom represents the privileged class, someone who has inherited their wealth and social status. He openly expresses his racist views, particularly toward African Americans, and uses his power and influence to maintain the status quo. The American Dream, as described by Tom, is exclusive and limited to those who are already privileged, perpetuating a system of inequality and discrimination. Likewise, misogyny is prevalent throughout the novel, particularly in the treatment of women like Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson. Women are seen as objects to be owned and controlled, rather than individuals with their own dreams and desires. Daisy, despite her wealth and social status, is trapped in an unhappy marriage and unable to pursue her own happiness. Myrtle, meanwhile, is treated like a disposable product by her lover, Tom. These depictions highlight the limitations placed on women and their inability to fully realize the American dream. Income inequality is another crucial issue explored in The Great Gatsby. While people like Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan accumulate immense wealth, the majority of society remains trapped in poverty. The American dream, with its promise of equal opportunity, fails to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent social mobility and perpetuate income inequality. Fitzgerald's novel exposes the stark contrast between lifestyles..