Disillusionment of the American Dream

1. Disillusionment of the American Dream

2. “I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby‘s house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited” • Chapter 1: Gatsby is introduced new money: • Set up to describe the tacky, lavish displays of the “new rich” with expensive cars and gaudy decorum Tom and Daisy Buchanan: • Superficiality of the old wealth Jordan: • Unimpressed nature of Jordan as she enters Nick’s house is depicted when she “yawns as though bored by her surroundings” • Fitzgerald sets the basis for the decline in the American Dream by letting an atmosphere of laziness and inheritance set in Chapter 2: Introduction of George Wilson and Myrtle Wilson: • Myrtle is Tom’s lover even thought both are married • sacredness of marriage is diminished Chapter 3: Gatsby’s luxurious party: - Well earned affluence is no longer a sense of pride in the 1920s , it is a leeway to show off ones riches through parties and displays of opulence

3. “It makes me sad because I‘ve never seen such – such beautiful shirts before” • Chapter 4: Gatsby gets pulled over by a police officer: • As soon as the police sees who Gatsby is, he apologizes and returns to his car Meyer Wolfshiem: • Disillusionment of earning money through hard work is exercised when it becomes clear to Nick that Gatsby’s money came from illegal activity with this “shady character” Chapter 5: Gatsby convinces Nick to have Daisy go over his house: • Another example of the lack of sacredness of marriage • Gatsby can only manifest his love for Daisy by showing off his fancy commodities, shirts and his huge house Chapter 6: Gatsby’s past is made pubic: • He is to embarrassed to reveal the hard work her went through to get to where he is currently • He is shy to admit to have earned his keep

4. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” • Chapter 8: Gatsby’s death: • George Wilson’s anger had derived from Myrtle’s confession to having a lover • Tom immediately rats Gatsby out to whose care is was that killed Myrtle even though Gatsby was not driving, leading to Gatsby’s and George’s demise Chapter 9: Gatsby’s funeral: • Effects of greed and intimacy in human relationships show when only reporters, journalists, and gossip mongers show up to his funeral • His so called best friends Meyer Wolfshiem and Klipspringer say that they cannot make it • Only person who arrives is Nick and Gatsby’s father Henry C. Gatz Tom and Daisy: • Tom and Daisy show no remorse for not going to the funeral • Tom and Daisy believe that Gatsby deserved it Nick leaves NY: • Nick is disgusted by the ambience of hollow values and moves back to the Midwest • Nicks last night on the beach at Gatsby’s house, he ponders an American dream that used to be driven by determination and work ethic • He seeks to find that back in the Midwest