“’Who is this Gatsby anyhow?’ demanded Tom suddenly. ‘Some big bootlegger?’” At this moment in the novel nobody would have guessed that Tom was right. During the time of Prohibition many newly rich people earned their money from the bootlegging business, selling illegal alcohol out of their back doors. And Jay Gatsby is one of them. But is Gatsby’s economic success nevertheless a realization of the American Dream?
It is important to ask that question because often The Great Gatsby is mainly associated with the American Dream and its typical lifestyle. Parties, money, expensive cars and women dressed in the typical fashion of the “Golden Twenties”. But there is much more behind Jay Gatsby’s story.
How did he make his way up to the top? And how important is wealth, success and his social status really in his opinion? In the following those questions will be given a closer look at.
At first a definition and the history of the American Dream will be given. Then there will be some general information about the Prohibition. The next point is about Gatsby’s wealth and his success with a special focus on his illegal affairs. Afterwards Gatsby’s reputation in society, also concerning his wealth and illegal means will be analysed. At the end the results will be summarized and an answer to the question whether Gatsby’s economic success is a realization of the American Dream, will be given in the conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The American Dream
3. Prohibition
4. Gatsby’s success and wealth
5. Gatsby’s reputation in society
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper examines whether Jay Gatsby's economic success in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel can be considered a legitimate realization of the American Dream, analyzing the role of his illegal activities and his struggle for social acceptance.
- The historical evolution and definition of the American Dream.
- The impact of the Prohibition era on social mobility and criminal activity.
- Gatsby's personal journey from poverty to extreme wealth.
- The relationship between financial success, social class, and reputation.
- The conflict between material gain and the pursuit of love and social standing.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Gatsby’s success and wealth
At first sight Jay Gatsby looks like the perfect ideal of the American Dream. The rags-to-riches motif behind his character is a typical example for someone who achieved his dream. But did he climb the conventional way up to the top?
“There was music from my neighbour’s house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”12
Gatsby appears to be one of the richest and most known people living in New York City. His parties in West Egg are beyond famous. And he cares a lot about his reputation and his wealth or at least, so it seems.
But on the other hand Gatsby lives in a completely delusional world. What he tells people or lets them believe about himself is mostly not true. And it seems like the rumours going about him at his parties do not bother him much.
“‘Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once.’ A thrill passed over all of us. The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly. ‘I don’t think it’s so much that,’ argued Lucille sceptically; ‘it’s more that he was a German spy during the war.’ One of the men nodded in confirmation. ‘I heard that from a man who knew all about him, grew up with him in Germany,’ he assured us positively. ‘Oh no,’ said the first girl, ‘it couldn’t be that, because he was in the American army during the war.’”13
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: The introduction presents the research question regarding Gatsby's economic success and outlines the structure of the analysis.
2. The American Dream: This chapter provides a historical context for the American Dream, contrasting its initial ideals with the materialistic focus of the 1920s.
3. Prohibition: The chapter describes the legal constraints of the Prohibition era and how they fostered the rise of illegal bootlegging businesses.
4. Gatsby’s success and wealth: This section investigates the discrepancy between Gatsby’s self-made rags-to-riches narrative and the reality of his criminal connections.
5. Gatsby’s reputation in society: This chapter explores how Gatsby's social status is perceived by Nick, Daisy, and other characters, emphasizing his inability to truly belong to the upper class.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes that while Gatsby achieved economic success, his unconventional methods and inability to gain social acceptance rendered his realization of the American Dream incomplete.
Keywords
The American Dream, Jay Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Prohibition, Bootlegging, Materialism, Upward Mobility, Social Class, Wealth, Reputation, 1920s, The Great Gatsby, American Identity, Self-made, Success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the validity of Jay Gatsby’s success as an embodiment of the American Dream, questioning whether his path to wealth—primarily through illegal means—aligns with the traditional narrative of the concept.
What are the core thematic areas discussed in the analysis?
Key themes include the historical interpretation of the American Dream, the influence of Prohibition-era criminality, the pursuit of social status, and the contrast between material wealth and personal fulfillment.
What is the primary research question?
The core research question is whether Jay Gatsby's significant economic success serves as a genuine realization of the American Dream.
What research methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon text from the novel and secondary academic sources to evaluate characters, historical context, and the thematic symbolism of the American Dream.
What aspects of Gatsby's life are covered in the main body?
The main body covers Gatsby's background, his bootlegging activities, his relationship with Daisy, his social reputation among peers, and his ultimate failure to integrate into the established upper class.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Major keywords include The American Dream, Jay Gatsby, Prohibition, Social Mobility, Materialism, and Reputation.
How does Prohibition contribute to the narrative's central argument?
Prohibition provides the mechanism through which Gatsby achieves his wealth, highlighting the irony that the "land of opportunity" allowed for such rapid, albeit illegal, financial gain during the 1920s.
Does the author conclude that Gatsby achieved the American Dream?
The author concludes that while Gatsby succeeded economically through hard work, his unconventional and illegal methods, coupled with his failure to be accepted by the "old money" class, resulted in an incomplete realization of the dream.
- Quote paper
- Julia Straub (Author), 2016, Gatsby’s rise to riches. Is Gatsby's economic success a realization of the American Dream?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/464324
