The American Dream is a recurrent theme in American...

The American Dream is a recurrent theme in American literature, dating back to some of the earliest colonial writings. Benjamin Franklin, who is considered to be the epitome of the self-made man once said, â€Å"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself† (Franklin). Furthermore it is the belief that every man, whatever his origins, may pursue and attain his chosen goals; whether they be political, financial or social. However, the composition of the American Dream transformed as America changed. Gradually, individuals became fixated with affluence. The right to pursue happiness was still permissible, however; many persons began to believe their right was to pursue money. In†¦show more content†¦He especially envies the lives of those who live so close to him. The Buchanan’s live in an elite section of Long Island, known as East Egg, and Gatsby desires to inhabit the lives of those across th e bay. He pursues the lives of Daisy and Tom, who come from ‘old money’, and it is the green light at the end of their dock that symbolizes his longing for wealth and power. This desire for material possessions is evident upon the arrival of Mr. Gatz. Describing the awe in his eyes, Nick narrates, â€Å"[†¦] when he looked around him now for the first time and the saw the height and splendor of the hall and the great rooms opening from it into other rooms, his grief began to be mixed with awed pride† (168). The luxurious parties that Gatsby throws every Saturday night in his extravagant home attract many people, however; he does not deem it necessary to befriend these individuals. Gatsby’s obsession for material gains is reflected in his house, decadent parties, expensive clothing and his car. Gatsby’s dream of wealth proves to be â€Å"a naà ¯ve dream based on the fallacious assumption that material possessions are synonymous with happiness, harmony, and beauty† (Fahey 70). Gatsby is captivated with the idea of Daisy, but not the true embodiment of her character. Unfortunately, Nick is the only person to recognize this and comprehend that â€Å"Gatsby’s dream has been futile from the beginning: he will never be accepted into theShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesand Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Read MoreMetz Film Language a Semiotics of the Cinema PDF100902 Words   |  316 PagesC1P The French edition of Christian Metz s Essais sur la signification au cinema, volume 1, was published by Editions Klincksieck in 1971,  © Editions Klincksieck, 1968. ÃŽËœThe paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. To George Blin, Profesor at the Collà ¨ge de France, whithout whom none of these pages would have been started. CONTENTS A Note onRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesguide to organisational theory currently available. What is needed is a text that will give a good idea of the breadth and complexity of this important subject, and this is precisely what McAuley, Duberley and Johnson have provided. They have done some sterling service in bringing together the very diverse strands of work that today qualify as constituting the subject of organisational theory. Whilst their writing is accessible and engaging, their approach is scholarly and serious. It is so easy