What Are the Themes of The Great Gatsby? The American Dream and Wealth and Money

The American Dream

A study of The Great Gatsby must include a look at The American Dream.

1. A look at The Great Gatsby and the American Dream shows that the quality of the dream had diminished, according to Fitzgerald, and had therefore corrupted American society in the 20’s.
2. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness established the foundation of the American Dream. The ability of common people to own property and grow wealthy through hard work constituted another important aspect of the dream. For Jay Gatsby, all these things are embodied in Daisy Buchanan.
3. The dream, according to Fitzgerald, however, had become corrupted by the desire for ease and comfort. Gatsby’s dream is not realized, not due to a lack of trying, but because the dream itself was not worth achieving, much in the same way the object of the American Dream in the 1920s–ease and material objects–was also not worth achieving.
4. Gatsby’s quest for the American Dream is also symbolized by his longing to repeat the past, to relive greatness from another era, much in the same way that the American Dream as established by the founding fathers could not be revitalized in the hearts of Americans.
5. Fitzgerald’s cynicism and negative views of his society are representative of modernist writers.

Wealth and Money

A study of The Great Gatsby must include a look at wealth and money.

1. There are two types of wealthy people in The Great Gatsby: the established rich, who live in East Egg, and the nouveau riche who live in West Egg
2. West-eggers are represented by Gatsby, who obtains immense wealth through bootlegging and other not-so-honest endeavors. His wealth is displayed gaudily through outrageous automobiles, amazing parties, and an incredible mansion.
3. East-eggers are represented by Tom Buchanan. His money has been inherited. He’s morally bankrupt–being an adulterer and a liar. He possesses only superficial knowledge, as evidenced by ridiculous regurgitations of hack scholars, and cares little about whom he destroys through his carelessness.
4. East-eggers and West-eggers have corruptness in common.

References

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby.
• Lorcher, Trenton. His Brain. Several Readings and Multiple Teachings of The Great Gatsby from 1998 - Present.

This post is part of the series: The Great Gatsby Study Guide

Don’t get humiliated in front of your friends and riddled with bullets on your next exam. Take a look at this study guide instead.

1. Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
2. Famous Quotes From The Great Gatsby With Analysis
3. The Main Themes in The Great Gatsby
4. Characters in The Great Gatsby
5. The Great Gatsby Study Guide: Answers to Important Questions