The Death of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby

Ms. Ogarek Honors English Period 5 May 5, 2005 The Death of the American Dream Webster's Dictionary defines the American dream as an American social ideal that stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity. This dream started as our country started. Our founding fathers had a dream of an America with equal opportunities. This dream was interpreted by those in Europe as an easy way to make money and a good way of life. Immigrants came to the United …

…the American dream died and it was shown throughout the novel The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby shows the true life fall of the idealism of the American dream. The American Dream fell in the real world as it fell at about the same time period as it was written in The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby, symbolizing the American dream, continued on a downward spiral into an eventual brutal death, as did the American dream.