Money and the American Dream

Question 1

Beneath the glamour of the upper class, what is the truth?

Answer 1

They have no purpose - Daisy asks what they should do “this afternoon… and the day after that, and the next thirty years?’

Question 2

How are many friendships superficial?

Answer 2

Gatsby’s parties are full of enthusiastic meeting between women who never knew each other’s names”. This shows that society is full of pretence and loneliness.

Question 3

What supports that behind the lighthearted partying, much of society was deeply unhappy?

Answer 3

Many of Gatsby’s guests had tragic fates, e.g “drowned”, “strangled his wife”, “killed himself”.

Question 4

What did the American dream state?

Answer 4

Any individual should be able to achieve success through their own ambition and hard work, without being held back by their social class or family background.

Question 5

How does Fitzgerald describe the American dream to be corrupted?

Answer 5

Instead of the pursuit of happiness, it is the pursuit of wealth - Daisy is described in materialistic terms, emphasising her status as a symbol of wealth.

Question 6

Give 2 examples to show Daisy is a symbol of wealth.

Answer 6

• Daisy is described as “gleaming like silver” - she appears to embody the phrase ‘made of money’.
• Many men loved her which “increased her value” - this makes her sound like an item that is in high demand.