Essay --

Patricia WangMrs. PagtakhanJunior English10 March 2014 A Reflection of Ones CharacterThe American Dream is an ideal vision many people strive for, promising happiness, prosperity, and success. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness is the foundation of American society, presenting a unreasonable perception that everyone can achieve the American Dream. Although people assume that the Dream comes with an equal opportunity for all, ones success is undoubtedly tied to a material component. The rich and powerful ar born into affluence while the farmers and industrial fixers can only long for it. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald portrays Tom Buchanans arrogance and fear of change and Jay Gatsbys obsession with getting Daisy through their homes, revealing Gatsbys inability to reach his vision of the American Dream. Tom Buchanans home reveals his arrogance and fear of change, as he has already reached the American Dream. Toms Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay parallels his alternatively hard mouth and supercilious manner (11). Located on East Egg, Toms house displays the old-fashioned, traditional East where the richest families retain their wealth through family lineage instead of personal gain in the West. The United States originated and expanded from the east coast westward, symbolizing East Egg as the foundation of significant money and wealth, while West Egg as money earned through ambition and hard work. Built on the top of the hill, Toms home overlooks the entire bay, reminding himself and others that he is above everyone. This ultimately leads to his haughty character, as he is a careless person mashing up things and creatures and then retreating back into his money or his vast carelessness (... ...e American Dream. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald parallels Jay Gatsbys home with his longing for the American Dream and Tom Buchanans home with his supercilious personality as a result of his excessive wealth. Toms directly inherited wealt h and Gatsbys self-earned money reveal that ones primer or environment ultimately determines whether or not the Dream is attainable. Gatsbys endless struggle portrays the misconception that the American Dream is achievable through hard work and determination, regardless of social class or material wealth. The harsh reality is that wealth and power are the true factors that lead to success and happiness those who are not born into this environment can never achieve their ideal vision. The desire for perfection undermines the true American society as people ceaselessly strive for the illusion of the American Dream.