The Corrupt American Dream By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Bella Kolinski AP English 11 3 March 2016 The Corrupt American Dream The American Dream is defined as the â€Å"idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative† (Adams). This idea has been relevant to Americans ever since the creation of the United States of America. Everyone has their own interpretation of it and embody it in their own way. Over time, the American Dream has been altered and changed in regards to how our society has evolved. During the 1920s, the American Dream became corrupt and America’s main focus was on materialism and wealth. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, he depicts the corruption of the American Dream based on greed and false prosperity which strayed from the true version of it which valued hard-work, and initiative. In the 1920s, The American Dream was skewed and very different from the original idea. In The Great Gatsby, the characters personify Materialism and greed. One of the main characters, Daisy, is very materialistic. She manifests greed and the American Dream during this time perfectly. Daisy has grown up with money being an important part of her life. She marries Tom Buchanan for the sake of his money, not out of unconditional love. She is so obsessed with wealth that she doesn t care for anything else than money. Daisy has always believed that money can make things better and that money is the answer. She is so blinded by the abuse sheShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream, and All Its Splendor (Great Gatsby)854 Words   |  4 PagesThe 1920s were a decade of rebirth characterised by the founding of the American Dream -- the belief that anyone can, and should, achieve material success. The defining writer of the 1920s was F. Scott Fitzgerald whose most famous novel, The Great Gatsby, has become required reading for present-day high school students. 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