Gatsby's Foolish Quest Of The American Dream example essay topic

By: Mickey Mantle Willy Loman - Jay Gatsby: The Pursuit of the American Dream Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, and Arthur Miller, author of Death of a Salesman, both tell the stories of men in the costly pursuit of the American dream. As a result of several conflicts, both external and internal, both characters experience an extinction of the one thing that they have set their sights on... The American Dream. Jay Gatsby, a mysterious, young and very wealthy man, fatally chases an impossible dream.

Gatsby attempts to rekindle an old relationship and has confidence in repeating the past. Gatsby claims that he is going to "fix everything just the way it was before" (Fitzgerald 117). In a a conversation with Nick, Gatsby discusses how the past can be repeated and how he wants the relationship that he once had with Daisy (Fitzgerald 116). Secondly, Gatsby attempts to exemplify his wealth through fancy cars and stylish clothing. Gatsby shows his clothing to Daisy and informs her that he has a "man in England" who buys his clothes every season (Fitzgerald 97).

Illustrating his wealth, Gatsby drives a Rolls Royce that "was a rich cream color, bright with nickel" (Fitzgerald 68). Although Gatsby's foolish quest of the American dream exemplifies a respectable aspiration, it ends in a tragic death that goes virtually unnoticed. A sharp contrast to the parties, the funeral was sparingly attended and "nobody came" (Fitzgerald 182). Following the death of Gatsby Daisy leaves town with Tom and "hadn't sent a message or a flower" (Fitzgerald 183). An elderly salesman lost in false hopes and illusions, Willy Loman works for strict commission and cannot bring home enough money to pay his bills. Willy foolishly pursues the wrong dream and constantly lives in an unreal world blinded from reality.

Despite his dream Willy constantly attempts to live in an artificial world and claims "If old Wagner was alive I'd be in charge of New York by now" (Miller 14). As a result, Willy often ignores his troubles and denies any financial trouble when he says "business is bad, it's murderous. But not for me of course" (Miller 51). Another false segment of Willy's dream includes the success of his two sons Happy and Biff. Biff was a high school football star who never cared about academics and now that he needs a job says "screw the business world" (Miller 61). Ironically, Willy suggests that Biff go west an "be a carpenter, or a cowboy, enjoy yourself!" , an idea that perhaps Willy should have pursued.

Constantly advising his boys of the importance of being well liked, Willy fails to stress academics as an important part of life (Miller 40). Furthermore, Willy dies an unexpected death that reveals important causes of the failure to achieve the American dream. At the funeral Linda cries "I made the last payment on the house today... and there " ll be nobody home" to say that she misses Willy but in essence his death freed the Loman from debt and the hopes and expectations Willy placed on his family (Miller 139). Very few people attend Willy's funeral but they all agree that "he had the wrong dreams" and how "he was a happy man with a batch of cement" (Miller 138). Both Jay Gast by and Willy Loman fail to achieve the American dream. Both men share the common dream to be happy and live a content life, but are unable to conquer their desire.

Gatsby's dream of winning Daisy crumbles and he "didn't believe it would come and perhaps he no longer cared" (Fitzgerald 169). With the well being of his family in mind Willy eliminates any chance of achieving his dream by taking his own life and allowing his family to collect the life insurance money (Miller 136). A key external difference between the two characters lies in the financial situations. Willy worked hard for the little money he earned, received no credit for his hard work, and was even fired (Miller 97). Gatsby is a self made man who achieves financial success through illegal acts, but fails to understand how wealth works in society (Fitzgerald 78). Lastly, the dreams of the two men were truly unattainable and were perhaps the one true thing that prevented happiness.

Ultimately, the chase of the American dream proved to be a costly, and even deadly journey. Although the two characters were of opposite financial status and social rank, both men lose their lives in the quest for their dreams. In reality the stories both convey a similar message: that one must set achievable goals to be happy and that often times you have to be happy with what you have and who you are.