从《了不起的盖茨比》看美国梦的形成与幻灭

TheFormationandDisillusionmentoftheAmericanDreamfromTheGreatGatsby从《了不起的盖茨比》看美国梦的形成与幻灭I.Introduction1.1ABriefIntroductionofAuthorFrancisScottKeyFitzgerald

(September24,

1896

-

December21,

\o"1940"1940)wasanAmericanauthorofnovelsandshortstories,whoseworksaretheparadigmwritingsoftheJazzAge,atermhecoinedhimself.HeiswidelyregardedasoneofthegreatestAmericanwritersofthe20thcentury.Fitzgeraldisconsideredamemberofthe"LostGeneration"ofthe1920s.

Hefinishedfournovels:ThisSideofParadise,TheBeautifulandDamned,TheGreatGatsby,andTenderIstheNight.Afifth,unfinishednovel,TheLastTycoon,waspublishedposthumously.Fitzgeraldalsoauthoredfourcollectionsofshortstories,aswellas164shortstoriesinmagazinesduringhislifetime.F.Scott.FitzgeraldwasborninSt.Paul,Minnesota.Hisfatherwasofupper—classorigin,butgenteellypoorowingtonumerouscommercialfailures.HismotherwasfromacommonIrishimmigrantfamily.Hetriedtowritethescriptwhenhewasyoung.Afterreadinghighschool,itwasadmittedtoPrincetonUniversity.WhenIwasinschool,Iorganizedatroupeandwroteadraftfortheschool'sliteraryjournal.Afterthepoorhealth,dropoutofschool.In1917,hejoinedthearmy,busywithmilitarytrainingallday,andneverwentabroadtofight.Afterretiring,insistonamateurwriting.In1920,thenovelTheSideofParadisewaspublishedandbecamefamous.Afterthepublicationofthenovel,hemarriedZelda.Aftermarriage,hetookhiswifetoliveinParisandbecameacquaintedwithmanyAmericanwriterssuchasAndersonandHemingway.ThegreatGatsbycameoutin1925,laidhispositioninthehistoryofmodernAmericanliterature,andbecameoneoftherepresentativewritersofthe"JazzAge"in20sandthe"lostgeneration".AfterFitzgeraldbecamefamous,hecontinuedtoworkdiligently,buthiswifepaidattentiontoostentationandextravaganceaftermarriage.Later,hewasmentallydisturbedandextravagant.Hewasunabletomakeendsmeeteconomically.HeoncewrotetoHollywoodtoearnmoneytoearnaliving.Unfortunately,in1936,hebecameillandhiswifefellillagain,makinghimalmostimpossibletocreate.Hismindwasonthebrinkofcollapseandhewasdrinkingallday.

OnDecember21st,1940,hediedbecauseofheartdisease.Hewasonly44yearsold.Thelastwordsof

TheGreatGatsby

arewrittenonFitzgerald’s

\o"wikt:gravestone"gravestone.1.2ABriefIntroductionofTheGreatGatsby1.2.1WritingbackgroundSetontheprosperousLongIslandof1922,TheGreatGatsbyprovidesacriticalsocialhistoryofAmericaduringtheRoaringTwentieswithinitsfictionalnarrative.Thatera,knownforprofoundeconomicprosperity,thedevelopmentofjazzmusicflapperculture,newtechnologiesincommunication(motionpictures,broadcastradio,recordedmusic)forgingagenuinemassculture;andbootlegging,alongwithothercriminalactivity,isplausiblydepictedinFitzgerald'snovel.The"RoaringTwenties"or"JazzAge"referstotenyearsaftertheendofthefirstWorldWar.ThisisaperiodwheneconomyofAmericanwasdevelopedunprecedentedly,whilethetraditionalmoral,idealandreligiousbeliefhavebeencompletelydisintegratedundertheimpactofthenewera.Thepursuitofpleasureandenjoymentbecameafashionablewayoflife.ItseemedthatanyofthemostdaringdreamscouldbeachievedandthemostextravagantlifecouldbemaintainedintheUnitedStates.Whenthesacredvaluesofthepastcollapsed,therealityofsocialandeconomicprosperityenabledwealthtoactas"God"intheinstantaneousvacuumofpeople’sthinking.Theenjoymentofextremeindividualismdominatespeople’shearts,itstimulatesflashy,vain,irresponsibleandsoon.Theuniversalprincipleofvalueatthetimewas,"Ithinkgoodismorality,Ithinkbadisimmorality."Somepeopleusedtoregard"maximizingwealthasthebestwaytoserveGodandtheindividual"asthe"NewBible."Peopleseemtobeenjoyingthemselves.IanOusby,onthelostGeneration,pointedoutthattheerawascharacterizedby"adesperate,depressedundercurrentinthebeautifuldaysofsinginganddancing."Infact,longbeforeFitzgerald,writerssuchasStephenKleinandTheodoreDreiserrevealedthattheAmericandreamhadbecomeapopulardreamwiththetragedyofthecruelsociety,whileHemingwayandFitzgeraldfocusedonthedisillusionmentoftheAmericandream.Fitzgerald,inparticular,vividlydescribedthesociallandscapeofthe1920sintheUnitedStates.Oneimportantreasonisthathebelongstotheerahewroteabout.TheAmericanDream,infact,hadmanyofthecentralstorieshewrotethatwerebornoutofhispersonallifeexperienceandhiscarefulobservationofsociety,sothathewasoftenreferredtoasthe"chronicler"oftheJazzAgeand“PoetLaureate”.Hisshortlifeexperiencedfrustrationandconfusion,successandfailure,providingpeoplewithexamplesofdisillusionmentofAmericandream.1.2.2MainContentTheGreatGatsbydescribesthenarratorNickbecameacquaintedwithhismysteriousneighborGatsby,andthenlearnedaboutGatsby’shiddenstory.YoungGatsbywasadestitutesecondlieutenantofficerandfellinlovewithagirlnamedDaisy,whowasNick’scousin.AsaresultoftheoutbreakofWorldWarI,GatsbywastransferredtoEurope,andDaisybrokeupwithhimandmarriedTom,aplayboy.DaisyandTomwereunhappyintheirmarriagebecauseTomhadanothermistress.GatsbythoughtitwaswealththatledDaisytobetraytheirlove,sohedeterminedtostriveforwealth.Afewyearslater,Gatsbyfinallysucceeded.HebuiltatallmansionoppositeDaisy’shouse,spendingmoneythrowingendlessbigparties,hopingtogetDaisy’sattentiontorecovertheirlostlove.MovedbyGatsby’sbehavior,NickwenttovisitDaisyandconveyedGatsby’swishes.ThenDaisyreencounteredwithGatsbyandseekexcitementbymeetingGatsbywhichmadeGatsbynaivelythoughtthattheirpastloveisback,buttherealtragedybeganquietly.Once,Daisyhit-and-ranTom’smistresswithGatsby’scar.Themistress’shusbandtracedthecarandmistakenlyregardedGatsbyasthemanhavinganaffairwithhiswife.Therefore,heshotGatsbyinhisgreatmansionbeforecommittedsuicide.NofriendexceptNickcametoGatsby’sfuneralandDaisyandTommovedtoEurope.1.3ABriefIntroductionofAmericanDream1.3.1TheTraditionalAmericanDreamTheAmericandreamisagreatspecialtyofAmericancivilization.ThisdreambeganafterColumbdiscoveredthenewcontinentofAmerica.SincetheAmericanIndianshavenotyetestablishedastate,Europeanscanregardthewholenewcontinentas"landofnoownership"andoccupyitwithoutlimit.Infinitelandhasbroughtinfiniteopportunities,howmanyunimaginablethingsintheoldworldhavehappenedhere.ThepoorEuropeanfarmerswouldhaveapieceoftheirownlandwithoutalongstruggle.Untilthecivilwar,therewerecountlesswastelandinthewestcallingforpeopletosettledown.Afterthewar,thegrasslandsoftheprairiesurvivedthemillionsofcattlefromTexastothenorth.Thegoldandsilverinthemountainshavenotbeendugupandtheundergroundoilhascomeoutagain.TheuniquenaturalconditionsarethefoundationoftheAmericandream,buthumanintelligenceisalsoindispensable.TheDeclarationofIndependencenotonlydeclaresthat"allpeoplearecreatedequally,andthecreatorcreatesthisequalitywiththenontransferablepower,andthereislife,freedomandthepursuitofhappinessintheseequalities.”butalsoregardedthepursuitofhappinessastheinalienablenaturalrightofeveryone.ThereisnostricthierarchyintheUnitedStates，everyonecanachievesuccessthroughtheirownunremittingefforts.

Thestoryofbeingamillionaireovernightisanythingmoreimportantthanopportunityinacountryandaneraofuncertainty.DreamshavethusbecomeanabilityandagiftthatAmericansvalueverymuch.AglanceatAmericanhistoryandearlyAmericanliteratureshowstheyearningoftheearlyAmericandreamforaperfectnationbasedonequality,justice,andfreedom.ItcanbesaidthattheAmericandreamisateenager’sdreamandasuccessfuldreamwhichcaninspireboldandenthusiasticaction.InthehistoryoftheUnitedStates,therearemanysuccessfulexamplesofindividualidealsachievedthroughhardwork.BenjaminFranklinbegantoworkattheageoftenandlefthisfamilytoPhiladelphiaattheageofseventeen.Atfirst,hewasanapprenticetotheprintingpress.Afterhardworkandperseverance,hebecameaworld-famousscientist,diplomat,politiciansandwriter.ThomasAddisonstartedfromscratchandlaterbecamethebestinventorintheworld.AbrahamLincolnmadeitpossibleforaciviliantobepresidentfromacabininthewoodstotheWhiteHouse.TheseareoutstandingrepresentativesoftherealizationoftheAmericandreamandproclaimtotheworldthatanyonecansucceedinAmericaaslongasheisdiligent,honest,restrained,ambitiousandconfident.ThisisthehistoricaloriginoftheAmericandreamandthesocial,historicalandculturalbackground.Suchabeautifuldreamoridealispositivefromthepointofviewoftheindividualandthecontributiontosociety,plusthevastterritoryandabundantresourcesoftheUnitedStates.SincethefoundingofAmerica,ithasrarelybeenconstrainedbythetraditionalburden.Ithasalwaysbeenregardedbytheworldasafreelandwithbroaddevelopmentprospectsandaparadiseonearth.TheAmericandreamhasexistedforalongtimeandcontinuestothisday,andthisnewworldhasattractedcountlesspeopletostrivetorealizethatenticingdreamforcenturies.1.3.2TheAmericanDreamin20thCenturyAlthoughthespiritoftheAmericandreamrunsthroughthehistoryoftheUnitedStates,theterm"AmericanDream"wasraisedasasingleconceptandwidelyknownintwentiethCentury.InMay1931,JamesLaszloAdamspointedoutintheAmericanepicthat"theAmericandreamofallowingcitizensofallclassestoliveabetter,richerandhappierlifeisthegreatestcontributionwehavemadetotheworld'sideasandwelfaresofar."ButthedevelopmentoftheUnitedStatesinthe20thcenturyisadeparturefromthetraditionalAmericandream.TheUnitedStateswasthebigwinneroftheFirstWorldWar.Becauseofthefirearms,thepostwareconomicpoweroftheUnitedStatessoaredfromadebtorcountrytoacreditorcountry.TheeconomicprosperityoftheUnitedStatesafterthewarwasaccompaniedbythedegenerationofsocialmorality,whichmadethemoralconceptoftheyoungergenerationbecomehypocriticalandempty.Beforethenewvalueshavenotyetbeenformed,traditionalmoralvaluesarechallenged.Therefore,Americansinthisperiodlivedalifeofdegenerationandemptiness.Peopledreamofbeingabletogetrichovernight.ThesurfaceofthatcurrentAmericansocietywasadailyraisinginmaterial,butthefactisthatthepeopleweredailysinkingintotheabyssofspiritualpovertyjustasRichardNixonsaidinhisInauguralAddress“Wefindourselvesrichingoodsbutraggedinspirit.”Materialenjoymentandcomparisonwitheachotherbecomethefashionofsocietyatthattime.Inthisera,peoplearesinginganddancingeveryday.Theirmoralvalues,valuesandworldviewaregone,andtheyhavenosenseofresponsibility.Theyareonlyinterestedintheirownenjoymentandareindifferenttotheworld.Nomatterwhichsocialclass,thereisunlimiteddesireformoney.Inthe20thcenturyintheUnitedStates,moneywastheonlytooltomeasurethevalueofaperson.Withmoney,everythingwasinplace.ItcanbesaidthattheUnitedStatesinthe20thcenturyisasocietywheremoneyisparamountandvalueorientationisproblematic.II.LiteratureReviewTherearemanyexistingworksdomesticandalsoabroadaboutthenovelTheGreatGatsby,thecharacterGatsbyandtheAmericanDream.Inspiteofthedifferentopinions,theobjectivedescriptionsofthenovelandtheAmericanDreamarevaluable.2.1PreviousStudiesatHomeAsforthepreviousstudiesathome,therearestudiesaboutTheGreatGatsbyandtheAmericanDream.2.1.1PreviousStudiesonTheGreatGatsbyNowadays,moreandmorescholarsshowgreatinterestinanalyzingF•Scott•Fitzgerald’sTheGreatGatsbyfromdifferentaspects,suchastheagesandtheauthor.Thiskindofessaypoursoutinlargequantities.QuShuyang(2015)putforwardsthatTheGreatGatsbywasborninthe“JazzAge”,aspecialageofmoneysupremacyaftertheendoftheFirstWorldWarandbeforetheGreatDepression.TheGreatGatsby,withexquisiteideas,uniqueperspectivesanddedicatestrokes,makesavividmockeryofhumanbeings’vanityandarrogance,butatthesametimefacestheindifference,confusion,despairofthereallife.LiChunyan(2015)arguesthatTheGreatGatsbyisbasedonFitzgeraldasaprototypeandareproductionofFitzgerald’slifeexperiences.Inthisstory,FitzgeraldintegratedhisownexperienceintoGatsby’slife,expoundedtheemptinessandabsurdityoftheAmericandreamduringthisperiodthroughGatsbyandachievedthecriticismofGatsby’sDream.F.Scott.Fitzgeraldfellinlovewiththedaughterofaprominentjudge,ZeldaSayre,abeautifulgirlandricherthanhim.Heproposedtoher,butshesaidshewouldonlymarryhimoncehebecamerichenough.InordertoearnthemoneytomarryZelda,F.Scott.FitzgeraldwenttoNewYorkbutdidn'tgetmuchluck.Zeldabrokeofftheirengagementin1919.F.Scott.Fitzgeraldwasverydisappointedatthisandwenthometocontinuehiswritingandpublishedhisnovelswhichbroughthimgreatsuccessbothliterallyandfinancially.Withthesuccessandmoney,hefinallygotmarriedwithZeldaandlivedaparty-likelife.However,problemsarosewhenZelda’smentalhealthgotworse,whichranbehindtheirexpensesandbroughtgreatpaintoFitzgerald.Then,hehadtowritetoHollywoodtoearnmoneytomakealiving.Unfortunately,in1936,hebecameillandhiswifefellillagain,makinghimalmostimpossibletocreate.Hismindwasonthebrinkofcollapseandhewasdrinkingallday.Twoofthemcouldnotgrowoldtogether.FitzgeraldwroteTheGreatGatsbyunderthedisillusionmentofhisowndreamandimpliedthefailureofGatsbyinthewholebookwhichisafailureofhimself.YouQingzhu(2014)pointsoutthatFitzgerald’sportrayalofhappinessoftheupper-classsocietyoftenconcealsdisillusionmentanddespairwhichexpressestheideathatallsentientbeingspossessinthe“JazzAge”inTheGreatGatsby.Toacertainextent,allsocialvalueregardmoneyasthesolecriterionformeasuringsuccessinlife.ChenYuanyuan(2009)analyzesthatsincetheUnitedStatesmadeawindfallduringtheFirstWorldWar,thewholesocietywascorruptedbyalargeamountofmoneyandwealth,thespiritofpeoplewasseriouslydamaged.MostAmericans,especiallyyoungpeoplehaveabandonedtheirbeliefs,losttheirmindtothefutureandgraduallybecomeselfishandvulgar.Therelationshipamongpeoplewasbasedonmoneyandinterestsandtheenjoymentofmaterialtranscendedanyspiritualcomfortandrulesofconduct.2.1.2PreviousStudiesonAmericanDreamThecontentcontainedintheAmericadreamisbeyonddefinition,coveringallmosteveryaspectofAmericansociallifeanddifferentlevelsofpeopleatthattime.HanBing(2016)discussesthatifweanalyzetheconstructionofAmericanDream,themostobviousdistinctionoraspectisfrommaterialandspiritualtier.TheAmericandreamisacommonthemeinAmericanLiterature,anditsemergenceiscloselyrelatedtotheearlyhistoryofAmerica.TheAmericanDreamisoriginallythedreamandaspirationofimmigrantstocreateafreestate,accordingtoChenYuanyuan(2009).ShealsomentionsthattheearlyAmericanDream,whetherFranklinstyleofself-creationthatpeopleadvocate,ortheheroicspiritofthewesternpioneers,istheembodimentofAmericantraditionalvalues:strivingforstrength,optimism,honestyandpursuinghappiness,freedomandequalityforall.However,bythetwentiethcentury,theAmericanDreambegantoturnintoadecadentandrottensynonym.In2015,LiChunyanpointsoutthattheessenceoftheAmericanDreamatthattimeismainlyreferstotheabundanceofmaterial.Andpeoplebecameextremepovertyandemptinessspiritually.Theoriginalvaluesofhardwork,lifethrift,temperanceandothervaluesgraduallyfadeaway,whichwerereplacedbylaterhedonismandextravagance.IthasabiggapwiththerealAmericanDream.2.2PreviousStudiesAbroadAsforthepreviousstudiesabroad,therearestudiesaboutthenovelTheGreatGatsbyandtheAmericanDream.2.2.1PreviousStudiesonTheGreatGatsbyTheGreatGatsbybecamepopularwiththecriticsafteritspublication.Agreatmanyauthorityreviewersandfamouswriterswrotearticlesinsuccessiontopraisetheworksforitsdeepthoughtandoriginalcreationinart.WangWenjing(2015)putforwardsthatthewell-knownpoetandliteraturecriticT.S.EliotcalledTheGreatGatsbythefirststepthatAmericanfictionhastakensinceHenryJames.DavidF.Traskinhispaper“ANoteonFitzgerald’sTheGreatGatsby”pointsoutthatTheGreatGatsbyiscertainmorethananimpressionoftheJazzAge,morethananovelofmanners.Seriouscriticshavebynomeanssettleduponwhatthat“more”mightbe,butonehypothesisrecursquietregularly.ItistheviewthatFitzgeraldwaswritingaboutthesuperannuationoftraditionalAmericanbeliefs,theobsolescenceofacceptedfolklore.TheGreatGatsbyisaboutmanythingsthatworthstudyingandanalyzing.RupaliMirza(2014)analyzesthatFitzgeraldcouldthinkofnobetterthangivingthiseraanexclusivename.HecalledittheJazzAgebecausethiswasthetimewhichwitnessedtheupsurgeoftheyouth.AccordingtoParvinGhasemiandMitraTiur(2009),FitzgeralduseTheGreatGatsbyastheembodimentwhichimplantstherelationshipbetweenEuropeandAmericaandtheambiguousinteractionsbetweentheprevalentconflictingtendenciesofEuropewhichresultedintheingeniousfoundationofAmericainthefirstplaceanditssubsequentdevelopment:mercantilismandidealism.ThisperiodisalsoknownastheRoaringTwentiethbecauseofmoraldecayandthelossoffaith,whichmakespeopleliveinaspiritualwastelandandfeelthatlifeisdislocated,chaoticandfragmented.ZhangHaibing(2015)putforwardsthattheperiodof1920salsocalledtheFlapperErabecauseoftheindependenceofyoungwomen,whowantedtospendtheiryouthenjoyingtheirlifeandfreedomratherthanjuststayingathomeandwaitingforamantomarrythem.Theriseofconsumerismalsopromotedtheidealsof"fulfillmentandfreedom",whichencouragedwomentothinkindependentlyabouttheirgarments,careers,socialactivities.2.2.2PreviousStudiesontheAmericanDreamQiLiandLiliZhengintheirpaper“TheGreatnessofGatsbyinTheGreatGatsby”discussesthattheAmericanDreamwasasuccessfuldreamwhichexistedamongyoungpeople.AndthisDreamwasconsideredasakindofveryvaluableabilityandtalentbyAmericans.What’smore,Americanswerenotmerelydreamersbutthemenofactioninstead.TherearealsomanythesispapersofthedisillusionmentofAmericanDreaminTheGreatGatsbypublishedabroad.Forexample,Fitzgerald’sRenderingofaDream”writtenbyKimberlyHearnearguesthatAmericansideologyismarredbytheirobvioussuppressionstothepointthateventhoughtheyareunited,theyarestillquiteseparateandemotionallyisolatedfromeachother.ParvinGhasemiandMitraTiur(2009)pointsoutthatintheAmericanguise,theDreamFitzgeraldsoughttorealizeflowedfromthatmostexclusiveandoriginaloftherightsproclaimedbytheDeclarationofIndependence.RuapaliMirza(2014)analyzesthattheyounggenerationcameoutwithrebellionandrevoltedagainstthePuritanorthodoxculture.Theynowwantednewruleswhichasnoculturerestrictionsattachedtothem.Goldblatt(2016)statesthattheAmericanDreamatthattimewasfullofUtopianismcombinedwithanextraordinarygiftforhopeandaromanticreadinesswhichledtotheextravagantpromisingidentifiedwithAmericaandtheintenseanddevastatinglossfeltwhenthedreamfailsinoneoranotherofitsguises.III.TheAmericanDreaminTheGreatGatsby3.1TheFormationofAmericanDreaminTheGreatGatsby3.1.1TheOriginInthenovelTheGreatGatsby,theprotagonistGatsbycamefromahumblebackgroundwherehisparentswereinactivefarmers.Fromhisearlyyouth,Gatsbyhatedpovertyanddesiredforwealth.Fameandwealtharethemostdirectandsuperficialmanifestationoftherealizationofself-worthpursuedbyGatsby,ahumbleandsuper-richman,butitalsocaterstotheacceptedsocialstandardsofsuperiorityandinferiorityatthattime.OnenotablerecurringtopicofthenovelisGatsby’shistory.Infirst3chaptersbeforehisappearance,rumorhaditthathewasadoubtfulOxfordmanandhemusthavekilledsomeone.ThenGatsbyrevealedhishistorytoNickhimself,sayingheinheritedbigmoneyandwasindeedanOxfordman.Laterwheneverythinghadgone,itwasrevealedthathedidnotinheritedanymoney,hadbeenpoorformostofhislifeandwasnoteducatedinOxford.Hejustboastedofhimselfasamanofhighbirth,awarhero,agraduateofOxfordUniversity,a"puregentleman"withacloserelationshipwiththeupperechelons,suchasMPs,policechiefs,andsoon.Becausehehatedpovertyandwantedtochangetheinferiorityofhisbirth.Infact,Gatsbyisstillhumbledinhisbones.Hehaswovenhisdreamsforhimselfonlytocoveruptheunbearablepast.Thepovertyofhischildhoodandthehardshipsofgrowingup,noteasytomakehisheartdeeplyuneasy,untiltheseinneruneasecannotbesatisfied,hecannotreallyaffirmhimself.HeregardedhimselfasthesonofGodandwouldsurelyachievesomething.HebelievedthatheshouldservetheGod.Hepursueda"great,secular,andfalsebeauty".Obviously,heimaginedhimselfasacharacterofChrist.Seventeenyearsold,toachievehispersonalambition,hedecidedtochangehisname,fromtheoriginalJamesGatestoJayGatsby-asignificantmovebecauseofthe"sonofGod".AndJayGatsbyissaidtobeavariantoftheEnglishJesus,pronouncedasGod’sboy,whichGatsby’sambitioncouldbetakenforgranted.Hedaredtoseizetheopportunity.Asachild,GatsbytookFranklinashisrolemodel,forhislife,toabidebytheprinciplesofjustice,temperanceanddiligence,andtoliveagoodandnoblelifethroughhisownefforts.Atthattime,heleftatimetableinabookheread.Itincludesexercise,fitness,scientificresearch,work,practicespeakingandsocialetiquette.Atthesametime,thereisageneralgoalofnotwastingtimeatfriends'homes,notsmoking,bathingregularly,maintainingacertainamountofreading,savingmoneyandfilialpiety.TheyfullyshowedGatsbyhasapositiveoutlooktowardslifeasayouth.3.1.2TheDevelopmentAsanambitiousyoungman,Gatsbywillneverbecontentwiththestatusquo.Hewantedtostruggle,togetaheadandtohaveahappylove.Gatsbyknewthatsuchalifewasnotathisfingertipswhichmustendurehardship.Gatsby,inordertofulfillhisdreamofbecomingrichandtocarryoutthewholeambitiousproject,enduredhardships,evensmugglingandsellingalcohol,andeventuallyjoinedhandswithavillain,WolfSam.Inshort,hedidwhateverhewantedtoachieveanend,andhewon,andhehadmoney,andhecouldspendasmuchmoneyasanyotherrichman.Withwealthashisfinancialbackstop,Gatsbywasdeterminedtoentertheupperclass.Withalotofmoneyinhishand,heboughtluxuryhomesandheldlavishdinners.Gatsby’sgoalwastoshowtheworldhispurse,andhethoughthewouldberecognizedand,ofcourse,amemberoftheupperclass.And,therefore,contrivedtoenjoywhattheleadingfiguresinthatsocietyshouldenjoy.Gatsbymetabeautifulgirl,Daisy,whenhewasayoungsecondlieutenantinamilitarytrainingcamp,andDaisy’simagewasimprintedinhismind,thegoddessofGatsby.TakingDaisyashiswifeisanimportantgoalinGatsby’slifeandoneofhisdrivingforces.ButDaisy,whomheloveddeeply,hadanemptyshellofbeauty,andhisheartwasugly.WhenDaisyfirstmetGatsby,shehadnoideaoftheunwieldyjuniorofficer,whowasTomwithbothstatusandmoney,andsotheylivedtogether.WhenGatsbybecamerich,Daisy’sheartwavered,butshedidnotchooseGatsby.BecauseDaisyisinterestedinmoney,butshewillnotrelaxherposition,bothofwhichareindispensable.Hergreedynaturepreventedherfromlosinganythingofvalue,anditwasonlybecauseofhercharacterthatGatsbywasgivenuponbalance.Gatsbydidnotrealizethis,untiltheendofthelovedreamdashed.3.1.3TheElementsTherearethreedreamsofGatsby:wealth,statusandlove.ThesedreamsareGatsby's"unityofmaterialandspiritual".Firstofall,Gatsby’srealizationoftheAmericanDreamlefttheoriginalintentionoftheAmericanDream.Inthosedays,apoor,cluelessyoungman,howtosucceedquicklyandgetwhathewanted,hadtotakerisks.Inordertogetintotheupperclassandliveintheupperclass,drivenbytheinterestsofmoney,helosthismoralsense.Insteadofgettingrichthroughhisownefforts,hemadealotofwindfallthroughsomeillegalmeans.Ontheroadtowealth,hesoldhimselftotheblackmailerWolfSamandbecameagangster.ItalsolaidthegroundworkforthedemiseofhisAmericanDream.Second,Intheupper-classsocietyoftheAmericanclass,thebottomofGatsbywillneverbeacceptedbytheupperclassoftheUnitedStates.EventhoughGatsbyhadagreatbanquetinhislife,onthedayofhisfuneral,therewasnootherthanhisfather,Nick,andtheowleyeglasses.Asthenovelasksrhetoricalquestions,"whatkindofpeoplehaveacceptedGatsby'shospitality,andwhatkindofrespecthavetheypaidtothemasterwhoknowsnothing?"TomkeptDaisy'sprivilegesintheuppersocietyandbeatherwhentheauthoritywaschallenged,andGatsby,thoughhecouldgiveDaisyaluxuriouslife,didnothavethedecentbackgroundandreputationlikeTom,andwasfinallyaba