Siddhant Bansal

   Much of the symbolism used in Great Gatsby is indicative of the degradation of the American Dream. Gatsby

himself, considering how he started out in life, is an effective symbol for the subject. James Gatz was born into

a poor family and then achieved what is commonly thought to be the American Dream; he grew up to become a

successful entrepreneur. When he was younger, he dreamed of growing up to become richer than he currently

was; in other words, he aimed to achieve the stereotypical American Dream. However, when he finally did

grow up he still wasn't happy with what he had accomplished; the people he met were not what he expected.

The friends he had (besides Nick) were only interested in his wealth, not in him. Gatsby’s version of the

American Dream was corrupted.

“ ̒Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something’.... The minister glanced several times at his
watch so I took him aside and asked him to wait for half an hour. But it wasn’t any use. Nobody came.” (pg 182)

    Nick, the narrator, is another great example of Fitzgerald portrayal of the deterioration of the American

dream. He starts out as an average person who moves East to begin his career, however he is not satisfied with

what he finds. The rich people of the upper class seem to have achieved the American Dream (Jordan

symbolizes this). They are rich, they are well mannered, they have extra leisure time, etc; they have the perfect

lives. However, when they are observed more closely, it can be seen that they are concerned with very trivial

things. For example the women at the parties consistently gossip, only those who have the behavior of upper

class people are respected, and everyone drinks to the point of intoxication. In the end, Nick decides to leave

West Egg and Jordan, and go back to the West because he has realized that the American Dream is not at all

what he thought it would be, and the people that he idealized were actually very superficial.

“We talked like that for a while, and then abruptly we weren’t talking any longer. I don’t know which of us hung up with
a sharp click, but I know I didn’t care. I couldn’t have talked to her across a tea-table that day if I never talked to her again
in the world. (pg 163)”