"a dream left unfulfilled"
A DREAM LEFT UNFULFILLED
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic twentieth century novel, is about the corruption of the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to attain its illusionary goals. The American Dream describes an attitude of hope and faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of human wishes and desires. This search goes back to the first settlers in the very beginning of American civilization. To these people, America represented a new life of freedom - a land of possibilities. For Jay Gatsby, the American Dream centers around his quest for Daisy Buchanan. Narrated by Nick Carraway, Daisy's cousin, The Great Gatsby relates the story of how Jay Gatsby, originating from relative poverty, climbs his way up the social ladder in order to attain the affluence he believes he must possess to regain the love of Daisy Fay, the only "nice" girl he had ever known. Unfortunately, Gatsby's vision, however honorable, is not fulfilled.
A sort of rags-to-riches scenario is to which Jay Gatsby aspires. Gatsby is a dreamer, just like many Americans. All his dreams revolve around Daisy Buchanan, a beautiful, mesmerizing woman who Gatsby met and fell in love with when he was a young officer and she lived near his military camp. When Nick relates how Gatsby comes to this realization the first time that he kissed Daisy, he states, "He knew that when he kissed the girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God." (Fitzgerald pg. 117) By this he means that, with this first kiss, Daisy would be the only woman he would ever love. But when Daisy tries to see him before he shipped off to battle, she was stopped by her mother who realized that he didn't have an appropriate background for her daughter. Since Jay did not come from old money, Daisy was forbidden to see him. Even though Daisy apparently did hold affection for Gatsby,...
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