The Great Gatsby – Review

            This book is all about the “American Dream”. Everyone is searching for that one thing that will make them complete. While the American dream is based on the lack of aristocracy and the equality of opportunity this book exposes the opposite. Carraway had his family money thanks to the fact that his rich ancestor paid someone to fight in the civil war in his place, a clear example of aristocracy and inequality of opportunity. I love that Fitzgerald didn’t see wealth like the great American dream and something everyone should strive for but instead as something that’s full of corruption.

If we look at the drunk driving accident that occurs after one of Gatsby’s parties where a man crashes his car just a few yards away from the house and eventually tries to continue driving even though one of the wheels has come off we can see that in the eyes of Fitzgerald by the 1920’s the great American dream had become the desire of enough money for fancy cars and enough whiskey to crash them. Society revolved around parties, money and alcohol. No one was focused on hard work or creating a society that is equal to all, even though these are supposedly the foundation of the American spirit.

            As far as Gatsby he is a character that symbolizes hope. He firmly believes that if he can just get the one thing he wants, that thing being Daisy, he will finally be happy. He has devoted all his life to the pursuit of Daisy, from accumulating a great wealth to throwing his legendary parties, all he does he does for her. Gatsby doesn’t even drink at his parties and only uses his pool once (at the end of the novel).  All his efforts go into getting that green light at the other side of the bay.