New Interpretation Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald was the most representative American novelist of the1920s,regarded as the chronicler of1920s America and “Poet Laureate” in Jazz Age.Published in1925, as one of the finest twentieth century American novels, TheGreat Gatsby told us a story of Gatsby’s pursuing Daisy as his realization ofAmerican dream and its final disillusionment. The study on the famous writer and thefamous novel has never stopped. Through tracing the origination of American dreamfrom both material foundation and spiritual foundation can we have a betterunderstanding on “what is the real American dream.” This thesis makes a newinterpretation of the distortion and disillusionment of Gatsby’s American dream,focusing on its causes and realistic significance. Gatsby’s American dream takesdifferent shapes in different phases. Through analysis on the influences of Franklin,Dan Cody and Daisy, we can find how Gatsby’s American dream degenerates fromlofty to distortion. Though making all kinds of efforts to achieve his dream of winningDaisy back, Gatsby finally fails and dies tragically, along with his disillusionedAmerican dream. The causes of Gatsby’s disillusionment are complex. Analyzingrespectively from the perspective of external and internal may make some points, butwe can never neglect the essential cause of the disillusionment is the loss of thespiritual core. Through some hypotheses of the plot this thesis discloses theinevitability of the collapse of Gatsby’s American dream.The American dream in the present age tells us the real American dream neverdisappears and what lessons can we draw to guide our today’s life. Simple criticizingand denying makes no sense. The American dream will last and takes a spiraldevelopment. We should have our own American dream and strive for it, leading tothe happiness.