The American Dream By F. Scott Fitzgerald And Death Of A...

Prominent American writer and historian James Truslow Adams once wrote, â€Å"The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. In both The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the main characters search for the achievement of the American dream in themselves and the world around them. While the American dream is defined differently for the main characters in each novel, both Willy Loman and Jay Gatsby struggle to achieve their view of these dreams in their respective societies. The main focus of the prominent characters remained the same; the attainment of wealth. Gatsby seeks wealth to attain the love of the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, while Willy strives to have wealth in order to care for his family. With this in mind, it can be said that both works offer a cruel and pessimistic view of the American dream, in conveying that both characters will never achieve their dreams. While one could argue that the treatment of the dream varies in the works, the untimely passing of Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman at the end of each novel serves as an indictment of the American dream as an unrealistic fantasy that only comes true in children s stories. Both novels offer a negative take on the American dream in that the dreams of both Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman were never satisfied. Gatsby grew up on a poor farm in South Dakota withShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1096 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald In a majority of literature written in the 20th century, the theme of the American Dream has been a prevalent theme. This dream affects the plot and characters of many novels, and in some books, the intent of the author is to illustrate the reality of the American Dream. However, there is no one definition of the American Dream. Is it the right to pursue your hearts wish,Read MoreEssay On The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1652 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Dream is a popular theme in many classic American novels and has been throughout history. This theme is often used as a motive or influence for the plot of many novels and drives characters to take action to accomplish these dreams. The American Dream is also used in the two novels, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. Both of the main characters in these novels had a specific dream and they based their entire lives off of these dreams. TheRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. 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One of the greatest examples is the continuous corruption of the American Dream. As the Dream evolves, it tends to conform to the illicit dealings of the time and immortals of society. No longer is an individual interested in working hard to achieve goals, it is desirous of the quick fix. Society wants its wishesRead MoreAmerican Dream Derailed in The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman1486 Words   |  6 PagesThe American dream originated when immigrants came to America searching for new opportunities and a better life. In the early 1900’s all people could do is dream; however, those dreams gave many different meanings to the phrase â€Å"American dream†, and for the most part, wealth and hard work play a very large role in the pursuit of â€Å"the dream†. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, and Arthur Millerâ€℠¢s drama, Death of a Salesman, both protagonists, Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman, are convincedRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald930 Words   |  4 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald is mostly known for his images of young, rich, immoral individuals pursuing the American Dream of the 1920’s (Mangum). This image is best portrayed in his greatest novel, The Great Gatsby, alongside his principal themes, â€Å"lost hope, the corruption of innocence by money, and the impossibility of recapturing the past† (Witkoski). Fitzgerald was identified as a modern period writer because his themes and topics were inconsistent with traditional writing (Rahn). The modern period