Assignment - 6

Assignment - 6 The American Dream in The Great Gatsby: Illusion, Corruption, and Disillusionment

Assignment Details:

Paper : 106 - The Twentieth Century Literature: 1900 to World War II (22399)

Topic : The American Dream in The Great Gatsby: Illusion, Corruption, and Disillusionment 

Submitted to - Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English M.K.B.U.

Date of Submission: 17/04/2025

Personal Information:

Name: Khushi Raviya

Batch: M.A. Sem - 2 (2024-2026)

Enrollment Number: 5108240029

Roll No: 10

Table of contents

• Assignment Details 

• Personal Information

• Abstract

• Key Words

• Introduction

• The Historical Context of the American Dream and the Jazz Age

• Gatsby’s Dream: From Hope to Obsession

• The Role of Class and Social Barriers

• Materialism and the Corruption of the Dream

• Symbols and Imagery: Reflecting the Dream's Collapse

• The Failure and Disillusionment of the Dream

• Conclusion

• References

Abstract:

This assignment explores F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby as a profound critique of the American Dream during the Jazz Age. The novel portrays Jay Gatsby’s rise from poverty to wealth, driven by his relentless pursuit of love, status, and identity. Through Gatsby's background, his pursuit of Daisy, and his elaborate public image, Fitzgerald illustrates how the American Dream is corrupted by materialism, class divisions, and unrealistic ideals. Gatsby’s tragic end reflects the inevitable disillusionment that follows the collapse of his dream. This analysis examines key themes such as the myth of the self-made man, love as an extension of success, the emptiness of wealth, and the clash between romantic idealism and harsh reality. By examining symbols like the green light, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, and the valley of ashes, the assignment highlights how The Great Gatsby serves as a timeless commentary on the moral decay underlying the pursuit of wealth and social status in modern America.

Keywords

The Great Gatsby, American Dream, Jazz Age, Materialism and Wealth, Class Division, Romantic Idealism vs. Reality, Corruption of Dreams, Illusion and, Disillusionment, Love and Success.

Introduction:

The concept of the American Dream the belief that anyone, regardless of background, can achieve success through hard work has been a central theme in American culture. Yet, in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents a critical perspective, showing how the dream is distorted by wealth, class, and moral emptiness. The story of Jay Gatsby’s rise and fall illustrates a deep cynicism about the possibility of achieving authentic success and happiness in a society obsessed with materialism. This essay explores how The Great Gatsby deconstructs the American Dream through its characters, symbolism, and social commentary.

The Historical Context of the American Dream and the Jazz Age:

The 1920s, often called the Roaring Twenties, was a period of economic prosperity, but also of cultural conflict and moral ambiguity. As Cullen (2003) argues, the American Dream evolved during this period into a vision of material success and personal happiness, often neglecting its earlier moral and democratic ideals

Gatsby’s dream of success and love mirrors the broader social pursuit of wealth, yet Fitzgerald critiques this version of the dream as hollow and corrupt. The novel reflects a time when material acquisition became central to identity and worth, particularly in East Egg and West Egg societies, where old money and new money collided (Bruccoli, 2002).

The Jazz Age: The Roaring Twenties

• Economic Boom and Prosperity:

The 1920s, famously dubbed the Jazz Age by Fitzgerald himself, was marked by rapid economic growth and technological advancements. Stock market speculation, real estate booms, and the rise of urban centers created unprecedented wealth. The consumer culture led people to chase after luxury goods, cars, fashion, and entertainment.

• Cultural Shifts: Jazz, Parties, and Modernity

The Jazz Age was an era of cultural rebellion, especially among the youth. Jazz music, symbolizing freedom and experimentation, swept the nation. Women’s roles changed, with the rise of the "flapper" culture   independent women challenging traditional gender roles. Prohibition (1920–1933) banned alcohol, but ironically, it led to the rise of speakeasies and organized crime, as people still sought pleasure and excess in illegal ways.

Key Points to Connect with The Great Gatsby:

Jazz Age Aspect	Connection in The Great Gatsby
Economic Boom & Wealth	Gatsby’s mansion, parties, and lifestyle
Prohibition	Gatsby's bootlegging, illegal parties
Social Changes	Flapper-like Jordan Baker; gender dynamics
Materialism	Daisy’s obsession with wealth and status
Moral Decay	Tom and Daisy’s carelessness; Myrtle’s affair
Class Divides	Gatsby’s struggle to be accepted by old money

Gatsby’s Dream: From Hope to Obsession:

Jay Gatsby embodies the modern American Dream, rising from poverty to immense wealth. However, his dream is fundamentally flawed because it is tied not to values or personal achievement, but to winning Daisy, who represents status and materialism rather than genuine love.

Gatsby’s transformation from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby highlights the illusionary nature of the American Dream. His belief that he can recreate the past and achieve ultimate happiness through wealth is an impossible fantasy, as Daisy is entrenched in a world that values inheritance and social standing over merit or effort.

The Role of Class and Social Barriers:

The American Dream’s promise of equal opportunity is undercut by the novel’s depiction of rigid class divisions. Gatsby's wealth cannot overcome the social barriers between him and Daisy, who belongs to the "old money" class represented by Tom Buchanan.

As Prigozy (2002) notes, Gatsby's efforts to "buy" his way into society expose the myth of meritocracy in the American Dream. Tom’s disdain for Gatsby reflects an entrenched class prejudice, indicating that economic success alone does not guarantee social acceptance.

Materialism and the Corruption of the Dream:

Fitzgerald portrays materialism as a corrupting force that distorts the American Dream. Gatsby's lavish parties, filled with strangers seeking entertainment rather than connection, reflect the empty pursuit of pleasure and status.

The symbol of the green light at Daisy's dock represents Gatsby's dream but also the illusory nature of his goals. As Callahan (1989) argues, the green light is a "beacon of unattainable hope," illustrating the gap between dream and reality.

Symbols and Imagery: Reflecting the Dream's Collapse:

Fitzgerald uses symbols to emphasize the failure of the American Dream:

F. Scott Fitzgerald masterfully employs various symbols throughout The Great Gatsby to illustrate the illusion, corruption, and ultimate failure of the American Dream. These symbols serve as visual metaphors that reflect the inner workings of American society during the Jazz Age and Gatsby’s personal struggle.

• The Green Light:

The green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock is perhaps the most famous symbol in The Great Gatsby. It represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams, especially his dream of rekindling his love with Daisy. For Gatsby, the green light is a symbol of the American Dream itself  a vision of success, love, and happiness that always seems just out of reach.

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.” 

Despite Gatsby’s enormous wealth and efforts to recreate the past, Daisy remains distant and unattainable, illustrating the illusionary nature of the American Dream. The green light shines brightly but remains physically unreachable, just as Gatsby’s dream never becomes reality. The light’s symbolism evolves throughout the novel  from hope to unattainable desire, and finally to disillusionment.

• The Valley of Ashes:

The Valley of Ashes is a stark, desolate wasteland located between West Egg and New York City. It symbolizes the moral and social decay that comes from the relentless pursuit of wealth and pleasure. The ashes represent the ruins of dreams and the destruction caused by modern society’s materialism.

“This is a valley of ashes  a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens.” 

While Gatsby and other wealthy characters live in opulence, people like George and Myrtle Wilson are trapped in the valley, representing the working class who are crushed by the gap between rich and poor. The valley is a reminder that the American Dream, for many, leads not to prosperity, but to ruin and despair. It is the grim reality behind the glittering world of Gatsby’s parties.

• The Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg:

The gigantic eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, painted on an old billboard in the Valley of Ashes, serve as a haunting symbol of the loss of spiritual values in a world dominated by materialism. Although originally an advertisement for an oculist, the eyes take on a godlike quality, silently observing the moral decay and corruption of society.

“But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.”

As Bloom (2010) argues, the eyes symbolize the emptiness of the American Dream and the absence of moral authority in a society driven by greed. They are a silent witness to the tragedies that unfold, including Myrtle’s death and Gatsby’s downfall. The eyes do not intervene or judge; they only observe a world where traditional values have eroded.

The Failure and Disillusionment of the Dream:

Gatsby's tragic end signifies the collapse of the American Dream. Despite his wealth and effort, he dies alone, rejected by the society he tried to join. Nick Carraway, the narrator, reflects on this disillusionment, realizing that the dream has been corrupted beyond redemption. The novel closes with the famous lines, "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past," suggesting that the pursuit of dreams is ultimately futile when corrupted by materialism and inequality.

Conclusion:

Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a profound critique of the American Dream, exposing how it has been distorted by wealth, class, and moral decay. Gatsby's rise and fall demonstrate that the dream of success is illusory, especially when it is based on material gain and social acceptance. Through powerful imagery, complex characters, and historical context, Fitzgerald reveals that the American Dream is not only unattainable but also fundamentally corrupted in modern society.

References:

Donlon, Jocelyn Hazelwood. “Hearing Is Believing: Southern Racial Communities and Strategies of Story-Listening in Gloria Naylor and Lee Smith.” Twentieth Century Literature, vol. 41, no. 1, 1995, pp. 16–35. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/441713. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Millgate, Michael. American Literature, vol. 60, no. 1, 1988, pp. 142–44. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2926423. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Schudson, Michael. “American Dreams.” American Literary History, vol. 16, no. 3, 2004, pp. 566–73. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3568068. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

Words: 1714

Images: 3