The American Dream Essay What is the American Dream?

The American Dream has no true definition, it is seen differently through the eyes of every individual, it also has the ability to change or shift with time. For example, the American Dream can change with the economy; today 72% of Americans say they believe it is possible to start out poor in the United States and work hard to become rich. And yet only 44% say they have actually achieved this dream, it may not sound like much but it is an increase from the 32% from only four years prior (Seelye, Katharine Q.). The American Dream is seen as the idea to do what it takes to become wealthy; Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson, in The Great Gatsby, are individuals who took full advantage of such opportunities. In the book The Great Gatsby a man named Jay Gatsby starts off with nothing and within a time span of five years he became a wealthy man. His opportunity came in the form of Dan Cody, a rich man who was looking for someone to trust with his type of business. Nick Carraway, a friend of Gatsbys, tells of his opportunity and states: It was from Cody that he inherited his money -- a legacy of twenty-five thousand dollars. He didnt get it. He never understood the legal device that was used against him but what remained of the millions went intact to Ella Kaye. He was left with his singularly appropriate education; the vague contour of Jay Gatsby had filled out to the substantiality of a man (Fitzgerald 107).

Cody transforms Gatsby into the successful man he later became. Cody gives him the knowledge he needs to live among the rich. After being taught how to act like the high social class Gatsby goes into a business that brings him great wealth.

Also in the book The Great Gatsby is a woman, Myrtle Wilson, who lives in the middle class and dreams of becoming wealthy. An opportunity presents itself in the form of Tom Buchanan. Tom is a wealthy man who is having an affair on his wife with Myrtle. When her and Tom get together he throws her parties where she would undergo a change. She would change from a middle class woman to a high class woman within a matter of hours. Nick Carraway describes this change the first time he meets Myrtle, he says: With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change. The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted Her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became

into impressive hauteur.

more violently affected moment by moment and as she expanded the room grew smaller around her until she seemed to be pivot through the smokey air (35). Myrtle changes when she is around Toms money. She plans on having him leave his wife so the money can be hers; this could have been possible if her life was not ended by a tragic accident. Myrtle took advantage of her opportunity when it presented itself and it did boost her up the social ladder. While she was with Tom she had all of the money that she every wanted. Opportunities reveal themselves all the time in the United States. In fact our country is know for all of its opportunities; Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson both took theirs when it presented itself. It is because of these chances that many people believe in the American Dream today. The dream is possible no matter what state the economy is in. Americans believe in chances and the ability to take advantage of it. Only in places like the United revolving on a noisy, creaking

States can an individual start off with nothing and be given a chance to become wealthy.

Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1995. Print.

Seelye, Katharine Q. "What Happens to the American Dream in a Recession?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 May 2009. Web. 17 Dec. 2012.