The American dream definition as shown in the Great Gatsby.

2. QUESTION(S)
•What is the American dream? How, where, when and
why did it emerge/was it formulated?

3. UNI 123-01
THE AMERICAN DREAM
“THE GREAT GATSBY”
BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
STUDENT NAME: TINASHE MASHAVIRA

4. OUTLINE
• The American dream definition
• Where and when was it formulated?
• Why did it emerge?
• Thesis statement
• How the writer portrays the American dream with further analysis to the
contextual meaning of some of the points and phrases used
• Conclusion

5. WHAT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM ?
• “THE IDEALS OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND OPPORTUNITY TRADITIONALL
Y HELD TO BE AVAILABLE TO EVERY AMERICAN.” –dictionary.com
• The belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what
class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a
society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American
dream is achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, not by
chance. Both native-born Americans and American immigrants pursue
and can achieve the American dream. (Investopedia What is the
‘American Dream’)
• It can be said to be a belief that despite gender, race, nationality, age or
social class that you were orientated from, as long as you have the
ability to work, you can become successful in life.
• Its hope for a land that is better, full of diversity riches and opportunity

6. WHY DID IT EMERGE
• people wanted better
lives, more provisions and
better housing for their
families

7. WHERE AND WHEN WAS IS FORMULATED?
• It was formulated in 1931, particularly in New York by a historian/writer called
James Truslow Adams.
• Although it already had been in practise, James wrote a book with a title; the
epic of America which brought to life the real meaning of the dream.

8. THESIS STATEMENT
• “ The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott fitzgerald shows to which extent people are
willing to deprive themselves joy in order to become wealthy and famous. It also
shows that peoples’ mentalities orbit around materialistic things.

9. AMERICAN DREAM USED IN “THE GREAT
GATSBY”
• “Just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that
you’ve had” –(page 1). By this it shows that being American is much more
advantageous i.e. It agrees with the ideals of freedom be it freedom of speech
or even free will to choose career preferences
• “Conduct be founded on the hard rocks or the wet marshes..”-Portrays different
customs and beliefs open in America. The word conduct itself outlines a
universal limit to things that can or can not be tolerated. This showcases
equality throughout America.
• “All for eighty dollars a month.” –(Page 6) this sentence phrase exhibits how one
can be privileged to experience the same quality of experience or lifestyle as a
matter of opportunity in the country.

10. • “I enjoyed the counter-raid so thoroughly that I came back restless” – (page 3)
suggests one of the many people who grew to have a rich mentality persona
despite their social background. He knew to get to the top you should work
harder which is also suggested by the phrase restless
• “It was hard to realize that a man in my own generation was wealthy enough to
do that” –(page 7) show cases that age is not a limiting factor to attain all
objectives one may have in America.
• “But the actual founder of my line was my grandfather’s brother, who came here
in fifty-one, sent a substitute to the civil war, and started the wholesale
hardware business that my father carries on to-day.” – (Page 3) America is all
about capitalizing profits from the least conditions possible. It also shows
ingenuity is what makes people successful in America,

11. QUESTION
• Is success something quantifiable through possessions and wealth or through
doing all that you desire in life before you pass-on?

12. CONCLUSION
• It shows tom and daisy to be successful, by doing leisure sports like football, by
travelling to places like France and even owning polo ponies. Yet its not showing the
aspect of working hard to become successful. Instead it just shows us a spoilt kid
(tom) who grew up in a wealthy family and probably inherited part of the wealth and
daisy who is just power hungry and deprives herself happiness. Daisy longs to see
some old friends yet she still cant despite all the riches and the ideals of freedom
they claim to have.
• “I'm stiff” –(page 12). Projects that they are not flexible in doing things differently.
Hence showing some aspect of being enslaved by their own riches.
• “Instead of being the warm center of the world” –(page 3) seems to speak how
America should be and implies that it had/s deviated from being open and
welcoming to everyone.
• Arguably to a lesser extent we see the American dream through nick who left a well
established family business in wholesaling in search of his dream in bonding
business. Freedom is also seen by the family and relatives not disapproving nick’s

13. REFERENCES
• BOOK – THE GREAT GATSBY BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
• YEAR OF PUBLISHED – 1925
• GENRE –NOVEL, HISTORICAL FICTION
• Investopedia What is the ‘American Dream’
• One definition of the American dream quoted from dictionary.com
• https://youtu.be/ehjTS6AhMJ8
• https://www.planetizen.com/node/30899