Table of ContentsThe Foundations of the American DreamThe Pursuit of Wealth as a Measure of SuccessIllusion versus Reality in the American DreamThe Disappearance of the American DreamConclusionReferences“So we continued, boats against the tide, constantly taken back to the past. This famous closing sentence from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby encapsulates the themes of disillusionment and the illusory nature of the American dream. Set in the Roaring Twenties, the novel explores the lives of the wealthy elite and serves as a scathing critique of the American dream and its unattainable promises. Through the characters' relentless quest for wealth and status, The Great Gatsby reveals the corrupt and ephemeral nature of the coveted American dream. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The concept of the American Dream has been deeply ingrained into the fabric of American society, embodying the ideals of freedom, opportunity, and success. However, as The Great Gatsby shows, the pursuit of the American dream, especially in the form of material wealth and social status, can lead to moral decadence and disillusionment. This essay will examine the founding elements of the American Dream, the characters' quest for wealth as a measure of success, the dichotomy between illusion and reality in the American Dream, the disappearance of the dream, and the relevance of the novel's message for the modern world. society.The Foundations of the American DreamIn order to fully understand the illusory and corrupt nature of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby, it is essential to understand its fundamental elements. The American Dream embodies the principles of freedom, opportunity, and achievement, promising individuals the opportunity to improve their social and economic status through hard work and determination. However, this idealized vision of the Dream has evolved over time, with its historical origins rooted in the quest for land ownership, entrepreneurship, and upward mobility. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, witnessed the socioeconomic disparities of the 1920s, which strongly influenced his vision of the American dream. In his writings, Fitzgerald described the dream as an inaccessible and ultimately corrupt notion, characterized by its emptiness and moral decadence. The Pursuit of Wealth as a Measure of Success The character of Jay Gatsby illustrates the destructive nature of the American dream, particularly in the pursuit of wealth as a means to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby's opulent mansion, lavish parties, and extravagant lifestyle are symbols of his pursuit of the American dream, which ultimately led to his downfall. Furthermore, the novel describes how the incessant desire for material wealth becomes a marker of social status and identity, perpetuating a cycle of moral corruption and disillusionment. Illusion versus reality in the American dream While The Great Gatsby depicts the facade of the American dream through a luxurious life. and false identities, it also highlights the emptiness of materialism and the unfulfilled promises of the Dream. The characters in the novel, particularly Gatsby and Daisy, eventually realize the emptiness of their activities, as material wealth fails to bring them true happiness or fulfillment. This glaring gap between the illusion and reality of the American dream further highlights its corrupt and illusory nature. The end of the American dream The tragic endings and disillusionment experienced by the characters in The Great Gatsby signal the disappearance of the American dream. Gatsby's untimely death and Daisy's moral and emotional detachment embody the ultimate failure and. 49-64.