Dreams/ The American Dream

Question 1

How does Gatsby’s character represent the American Dream?.

Answer 1

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning—”
Explanation:
This quote reflects Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of his dreams, symbolized by the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. It embodies the idea of striving for an ever-elusive future, characteristic of the American Dream.

Question 2

Question 2: How does Gatsby’s past reflect his pursuit of the American Dream?

Answer 2

“His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people—his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all.” (Chapter 6).
Explanation:
Gatsby’s rejection of his humble origins and his reinvention of himself as a wealthy and sophisticated man are indicative of the self-made man ideal central to the American Dream.

Question 3

Question 3: In what ways does Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy illustrate the American Dream?

Answer 3

“He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you.’” (Chapter 6).
Explanation:
Gatsby’s desire for Daisy to renounce her past and be exclusively his reflects his yearning for perfection and his belief that money and status can help him achieve his ultimate dream.
“Her voice is full of money.”
Explanation:
This observation by Gatsby about Daisy Buchanan’s voice shows that there’s a confusion between love and wealth in Gatsby’s perspective.

Question 4

Question 4: How is the American Dream portrayed as corrupted or flawed in the novel?

Answer 4

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…” (Chapter 9).
Explanation:
This quote criticizes the moral decay and irresponsibility of the wealthy, suggesting that the American Dream has been corrupted by materialism and a lack of ethical values.

Question 5

Question 5: What role does social class play in the pursuit of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby?

Answer 5

“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” (Chapter 2).
Explanation:
Nick’s position as both an observer and participant highlights the social stratification that complicates the American Dream. While the dream promotes upward mobility, the reality of entrenched social divisions often undermines this ideal.

Question 6

Question 6: How does Nick’s perspective on Gatsby evolve in relation to the American Dream?

Answer 6

“They’re a rotten crowd… You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” (Chapter 8).
Explanation:
Nick’s final assessment of Gatsby acknowledges his unique qualities amidst the moral corruption surrounding him. This suggests a complex view of the American Dream, recognizing both its potential for greatness and its susceptibility to corruption.