毕业设计(论文)-论《了不起的盖茨比》中盖茨比美国梦的破灭

TheDisillusionmentoftheAmericanDreamintheGreatGatsbybyAthesispresentedtotheSchoolofEnglishStudiesofXi’anInternationalStudiesUniversityinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthedegreeofBachelorofArtsMay18,2015Class:2012-13Advisor:

西安外国语大学毕业论文开题报告姓名孙少康性别男班级2012-13学号1201011322论文题目：论《了不起的盖茨比》中盖茨比美国梦的破灭TheDisillusionmentoftheAmericanDreamofGatsbyintheGreatGatsby任务起止日期:2015年8月29日至2016年5月18日论文主要内容及参考文献：弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德被广泛的认为是美国梦的文学代言人，他的小说包含了这一时期他个人独特的经历，对于分辨他的小说作品和他的真实的人生经历是不一的，尤其是他的作品已经注入了他精神价值观。在他的著作中，尤其是1925年出版的了不起的盖茨比将他的精神表达的淋漓尽致。本将研究1920年代时期美国梦破灭的必然性从而揭开美国梦的本质。Suzanne,DelGizzo.“TheAmericanDreamUnhinged:RomanceandRealityinTheGreatGatsbyandFightClub.”TheF.ScottFitzgeraldReview.6.1(2008):142+.Print.Tony,Adams.“TheGreatGatsbyasabusinessethicsinquiry.”JournalofBusinessEthics.12.8(1993):652-660.Print.Zhao,Jie.“TheDisillusionofAmericanDream—EssayOn“TheGreatGatsby.”OverseasEnglish.21.2May.2013:243-245.Print.黄艳芳：《<了不起的盖茨比>中美国梦的幻灭与升华——新历史主义解读》，载《中南大学学报》，2010年5期。牟学麟：《了不起的盖茨比中绿光的象征意义》，载《海外英语》，2011年。指导教师(签名)2015

年9月2日

论盖茨比中美国梦的破灭摘要：弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德被广泛的认为是美国梦的文学代言人，他的小说包含了这一时期他个人独特的经历，对于分辨他的小说作品和他的真实的人生经历是不一的，尤其是他的作品已经注入了他精神价值观。在他的著作中，尤其是1925年出版的了不起的盖茨比将他的精神表达的淋漓尽致。在这本小说中，盖茨比这一人物揭示了那些壮志林云想要追求美国梦不惜牺牲自己的典范人物。尽管他幻想通过勇敢与勤劳取得物质财富和爱情，但是所部的外部因素都不可避免的使他的美国梦走向破灭。通过人物故事与性格的发展，菲兹杰拉德精心描绘了一幅美国梦破灭的画卷。关键词：弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德；美国梦；破灭Abstract:F.ScottFitzgerald,iswidelyconsideredastheliteraryspokesmanofthe"AmericanDream".Hisnovelsincludemanyaspectsofhisuniqueexperiencesinthatperiodoftime.Itisnoteasytodistinguishhisnovelandthereallife,whichhasalreadyinvolvedhimphysicallyandmentallyinit.Especiallyinhismasterpiece,TheGreatGatsby,whichwaspublishedin1925.Inthenovel,theherorevealedatypicalexampleofthosewhowereeagertopursuetheAmericanDreambutfinallyendedbysacrificingthemselves.Thoughhedreamedofachievingmaterialwealthandlovethroughhiscourageandhardworking,allthefactorsfromoutsideworldandtheindelibilityofhisdreamledtothedisillusionmentofit.Throughthedevelopmentofthestoryandcharacteristicsofheroes,FitzgeraldelaboratedavividpictureofthedisillusionmentofAmericanDream.Keywords:F.ScottFitzgerald;AmericanDream;disillusionment

TableofContentsIntroduction……………….………11.1LiteratureReview1.2TheDefinitionandIntroductionoftheAmericanDreamintheGreatGatsbyTheAmericanSocialBackgroundandValuesin1920s32.1TheIntroductionofRoaringTimesinAmericanin1920s2.2People’sFevertoWealthandSocialStatusin1920sTheRelationshipandLoveStorybetweenGatsbyandDaisy.………………22.2Daisy’sPersonalitiesandValuesaboutLoveandWealth2.3TheTurnsandTwistsofTheirRelationshipTheRelationshipBetweenGatsbyandDaisy...…..……….……...54.1TheBriefofTheirLoveStory………………..……..……….…..54.2Daisy’sPersonalitiesandValues……...……………….….…...…….64.3TheEndingofTheirLoveAffairs9TheIronicMeaningofGatsby’sDeathandtheRevealofCapitalism’sCruelty...105.1TheInevitabilityoftheDisillusionmentofGatsby’sAmericanDream…15WorksCited………….……….……...1

Introduction1.1AbriefintroductionofF.ScottFitzgeraldandhisGreatGatsbyF.ScottFitzgerald(September24,1896-December21,1940)isanAmerican

\o"Authorofnovels"authorofnovels

and

\o"Shortstorywriter"shortstories,whoseworksaretheparadigmaticwritingsofthe

\o"JazzAge"JazzAge.Heiswidelyregardedasoneofthegreatest\o"Americanliterature"Americanwriters

ofthe20thcenturyandconsideredasamemberofthe"LostGeneration"ofthe1920s.Hefinishedfournovels:ThisSideofParadise,TheBeautifulandDamned,TheGreatGatsby(hisbestknown),andTenderIstheNight.F.ScottFitzgerald,iswidelyconsideredastheliteraryspokesmanofthe"AmericanDream".Hisnovelsincludemanyaspectsofhisuniqueexperiencesinthatperiodoftime.Itisnoteasytodistinguishhisnovelandthereallife,whichhasalreadyinvolvedhimphysicallyandmentallyinit.Especiallyinhismasterpiece,TheGreatGatsby,whichwaspublishedin1925.Inthenovel,theherorevealedatypicalexampleofthosewhowereeagertopursuetheAmericanDreambutfinallyendedbysacrificingthemselves.Thoughhedreamedofachievingmaterialwealthandlovethroughhiscourageandhardworking,allthefactorsfromoutsideworldandtheindelibilityofhisdreamledtothedisillusionmentofit.Throughthedevelopmentofthestoryandcharacteristicsofheroes,FitzgeraldelaboratedavividpictureofthedisillusionmentofAmericanDream.TheGreatGatsby,writtenin1925,isoneofthegreatestliteracydocumentsofthisperiodaswellasamasterpiecerelatedwithironyandpathostothe“AmericanDream.”Itisapictureoftheunprecedentedprosperityandmaterialexcess.Manycriticshavemadealotofstudiesonitandwrotenumerouscriticalessays.TheEnglishfamouspoetandcriticT.S.Eliotwhohasneverhadahastyandextravagantcritic,readTheGreatGatsbythreetimesandpraisedthenovelwas“thefirststepthatAmericanfictionhastakensinceHenryJames.In1983,TheGreatGatsbywastranslatedintoChinesebyProfessorWuKunning,afterthatmanyChinesescholarsbeganstudyonTheGreatGatsby,analyzingitsartisticforms,themeandsymbols.ToZhangLilong,“TheGreatGatsbyisactuallyarecallandsummaryoftheprocessofevolvementoftheAmericandreamhistoricalandrealisticperspectives.”WangYujuanarguesthat“thedreamofGatsbyisalsothedreamofallAmericans.ThedefeatofGatsbyisalsothelossofthegeneration.”Fromallresearchesbothdomesticandabroad,wecanseethatTheGreatGatsbyexploresthemesofdecadence,idealism,resistancetochange,socialupheaval,andexcess,creatingaportraitoftheJazzAgeortheRoaringTwentiesthathasbeendescribedasacautionarytaleregardingtheAmericanDream.IntroductionThisChapteraimstogiveabriefandnecessaryintroductiontoreaders,whichcontainstwoparts.ThisfirstsectionintroducesthebasicinformationabouttheauthorScottFitzgeraldandhisnovel.Thenthesecondsectionpresentsthepurposeofthispaper.ItgivethedefinitionoftheAmericandreamstoreadersthathelpthembetterunderstandthemeaningofthenovelTheGreatGatsbyandAmericandream.1.1LiteratureReviewScottFitzgeraldwasborninaSt.Paulmiddle–classfamilyin1896.Hisfatherwasgentlemanlybutunsuccessfulinbusiness.Scotthadanexpensiveeducationfirstinprivateschools,andthenatPrinceton,wherehebecamepartoftheintellectualset,theTriangleClub,whichincluded,amongothers,EdmundWilson.Hebegantowritefortheshowsoftheclub,becameeditorofauniversitymagazine,andwasdevelopingareputation.Hefeltthathewasheadingfortheupperclasslifeinwhichhewouldplayaleadingpartasawriter.ThenhehadtoleavePrinceton,probablypartlybecauseofhisacademicrecordthathadsufferedfromhisillnessandfromtooheavyanextra-curriculumscheduleandalsobecausetheFirstWorldWarthatwasgoingonofferedhimagoodexcusetostayawayforawhile.Ayear’sabsencefromtheuniversitywoundedhisprideandambitionsothatitironeditselfintohisconsciousnessasoneofthemajordisappointmentshesufferedinhisshort,unhappylife.HereturnedtoPrincetononlytostayforanotheryearinwhichhemanagedtofinishthedraftofhisfirstnovel,theSideofParadise.Thenin1922,Fitzgeraldfinishedhissecondnovel,TheBeautifulandtheDamned.TheBeautifulandtheDamnedisinterestingespeciallyasasortoffirstattemptaswritingisnotasgreat.Meanwhile,theFitzgeraldwereliving,ontheproceedsofScott’sbooksandstories,thelifeofthepeoplewhogotoGatsby’scrazyparties.In1925,hewrotehismasterpiece,TheGreatGatsbyinPairs.TheFitzgeraldhadgonetherefromYorkandmetHemingwayandGertrudeStein,amongothers.TheDefinitionandIntroductionofAmericanDreamintheGreatGatsby"TheGreatGatsby"isoneofthemostrepresentativeworksofFitzgerald.Attheendof20thCentury,theUnitedStatesacademicauthorityselectedtheonehundredbestnovelsinhundredsofyearsofhistoryofEnglishLiterature,"TheGreatGatsby"enjoyedpopularconfidence,toppingthesecond,andwereproudlyamongthecontemporaryandclassicranks.Thenovelisuseofimpressionisticdescription,itsstyleisofbothwarmandcool,andithasplayedanindispensableroleinthehistoryofliteratureoftheworldforthestatusofFitzgerald.ThisnovelisnarratedbyNick,ayoungbachelorwhoreturnstotheMidwestbeforesettingtotheNewYorkCity.Daisy,theheroine,isNick’ssecondcousinandNickknowsofherhusband,Tom.Withthedevelopmentofthenovel,Nickknowsthathisnext-doorneighboristhewealthyGatsby，whoalwayshostinglavishpartiesofhundredsofpeoples,JordanBakertakesinterestsinNick,andherevealsthatIn1917GatsbyasArmyLieutenantstationednearDaisy’shometownandthenhadfalleninlovewithDaisy.ButGatsbyhadnomoneytomarryDaisy,soDaisywasmarriedtothewealthyTom,afterthatGatsbyisaimingtobeamillionaire.Withfewyearsofsmuggling,Gatsbyaccumulatesagreatamountofwealth.HewouldlikeNicktoarrangeameetingwithDaisy,andNickagreestoinviteGatsbyandDaisytohishouse,sotheybeginaloveaffairagain.Butactually,Daisyonlytreatsthisrelationshipasanexcitinggame.DaisyinvitesGatsbyandNicktohermansionandTomfindsthatGatsbylovesDaisy.TomknowsDaisy’snatureverywell.AndbytakingawayDaisy’sfinancialsecurity,TomthinksthatDaisyisnowbeyondhisreach.Becauseofthesituationbetweenthem,DaisyrunsoutofthehotelandGatsbyfollowsherintohiscar.Daisyinsistsondrivingbecauseitwillcalmhermoods.ButinthelaterDaisyknocksdownandkillsMyrtle,Tom’smistress.GatsbyabsolveDaisyfromherguiltytoprotecther.AfterthatTomtalksintoMyrtle’shusbandtoshootGatsbydead.Sothemagicbubbleofloveanddreamsbrokeup.DespiteNick’sefforts,onlyGatsby’sfather,awomanandNickattendhisfuneral.DiscussingwithTomandDaisy,Nickreturnstohishometown,reflectingonGatsby’sdreamsandcyclicalnatureofthepast.Theterm,"Americandream"wasfirstusedbyJamesTruslowAdamsinhisbook"TheEpicofAmerican"whichwaswrittenin1931.TheAmericanDreamisadreamthathadlandwhereeveryonecouldliveabetterandricherandfullerlife.What’smore,everyonehadopportunitytomatchabilitywithachievement.ItisadifficultdreamfortheEuropeanupperclassestointerpretadequately,andtoomanyofushavegrownwearilyandmistrustedit.Itisnotmerelyadreamofmotorcarsorhighwages,butadreamofsocialorderinwhicheachmanandeachwomanshallbeabletoattainthefulleststatureandberecognizedbyothersforwhotheyare,regardlessoftheconditionorpositionofbirth."Theso-calledAmericanDreamisakindofbeliefthataslongaspeoplewentthroughahardstruggleintheUnitedStates,theywillbeabletoachieveabetterideallife.Thatis,peoplemustworkdiligently,courageously,creatively,andhavedeterminationtosuccess,ratherthanrelyonaparticularsocialclassandtheassistanceofothers.Thisusuallyshowedtheeconomicsuccessofpeopleorentrepreneur’sspirit.ManyEuropeanimmigrantswhichhavingtheidealofAmericandreammovedtowardstheUnitedStates.DespitesomecriticizedtheAmericandreamexcessivelyemphasizedontheroleofmaterialwealthplayedinthemeasureofvictoryandhappiness.ButmanyAmericansreallybelievedthatsuchanopportunitytogetsuccesscannotbefoundintheworld.Asdifferentfromthemostothercountries,theUnitedStateshadconsiderableeconomicfreedom;theroleofgovernmentislimited,makingtheU.S.hasagreatsocialmobility.Anypersonmaygotowardsthetopthroughtheirownefforts.FromIndependenceoftheUnitedStatestotheendofthe19thcentury,largeareasoflandwereuninhabitedandunoccupiedbypeople.Anyonecouldoccupy,investandreclaimtolands.BythetimeoftheIndustrialRevolution,thehugenaturalresourcesofUnitedStatesandadvancedindustrialtechnologymaderapidsocialmobilitypossible,andthistrendisstillincreasingdaybyday.Accordingtothehistorians,theythinkthatthereasonwhytheeconomyoftheUnitedStatesrapidlydevelopsandindustryexpandisnotjustbecausetheUnitedStateshasrichnaturalresources,butalsobecauseeveryonehastheopportunitytogetwealththroughtheirownstruggle.In1920s,theAmericansocietyenjoyedeconomicprosperityaftertheWorldWarI.Suchasautomobiles,movingpicturesandradio,thesenewinventionsanddiscoveriesweremadesignificantchangestolifestyleandculture.Unprecedentedindustrialgrowthandacceleratedconsumerdemandmadetheeraknownas“theRoaringTwenties”.TheAmericanDreamatthattimehasgraduallychangedintomoney-making.TheAmericanSocialBackgroundandValuesin1920sTheIntroductionofRoaringTimesinAmericanin1920sIn1920s,theAmericansocietyenjoyedeconomicprosperityaftertheWorldWarI.Suchasautomobiles,movingpicturesandradio,thesenewinventionsanddiscoveriesweremadesignificantchangestolifestyleandculture.Unprecedentedindustrialgrowthandacceleratedconsumerdemandmadetheeraknownas“theRoaringTwenties”.TheAmericanDreamatthattimehasgraduallychangedintomoney-making.TheRoaringTwentiesisanageofexplosionfsocialwealthandbillionaire,butalsoisanageofspiritualpoverty.Younggenerationssufferedfromthetraumaofbodyandspirit;becauseofwartheyloseconfidencetofuture.Theurbansocietyisfullofdepravityandcorruption,consumerismandmaterialismbecomethemajorthemeoftheAmericanDream.PeoplelikeGatsbyusedallmeanstomakemoneydespiteofmoralandlegalstandards.Fromallthatmentionedabove,thedefinitionofthe"AmericanDream"haschangedoverthedevelopmentofhistory.ButitstillactsasacorevalueinAmericaandinfluencespeoplefromgenerationtogeneration.People’sFevertoWealthandSocialStatusin1920sThesocalled“economicbasedeterminesthesuperstructure”,withthecompletionoftheprocessofAmericanindustrializationandurbanization,theoriginalvaluesandtherulesoflifemustbechanged.OneimportantreasonoftheAmericanDreamdisillusionedisthatnomatterhownobletheperson'sdreamatthistimeis,howcharacteristicoftheAmericandreamis,ithasnotmetthetrendofthetimes.Inotherwords,thedisciplineofFranklinandCarnegiehaslookedpaleandweakundertheimpactofthemodernizationtide,hasnolongeradaptedtothechangingsocialthoughts.Thecorruptionofdreamalsoledtodisillusionoftheso-called"Americandream".Theconceptofindividualentrepreneurialspiritandthepursuitofhappinesshavecorruptedintounscrupulouspursuitofmoney.Inashortnut,TheGreatGatsbyexposesthatinthematerialismsociety,inanycase,Gatsbywouldhavefailedtohisidealisticdreaminevitable,namelydisillusionofAmericandream.Italsoindicatesthatthematerialismwaymayleadtototaldepravity,whichisstillofimportancetotoday’snewworld,leavingpeopletothinkabout.It'saspecialerainthehistoryoftheUnitedStateswhentheWorldWarIended;theGreatDepressionwasnotyettocome.Duringpre-waroftheworldwarⅠ,theUnitedStatesprofiteered.Inthepost-war,itwonapreciousopportunityofdevelopingeconomy.Duetothecrueltyofthewar,manypeoplehaddoubtableattitudetowardsthetraditionalvalues,suchashonor,democracy,freedomandlostfaith,thusindulginginpleasure.Inaddition,traditionalPuritanethicsdisintegrated,andhedonismbegantoflourish.TheeconomyoftheU.SexperiencedarapiddevelopmentofthepostwaranddramaticchangethatthecrashofNewYorkstockmarketbrought,sotheeconomyofU.Shasexperiencedrecessionforyears.Affluentandeasylifeinthepost-warmadepeopledizzyinthebustle.Whileatthistime,Americanintellectualshadfled,andspenthislonelyyouthinpainandconfusion.What'smore,itwasachangeableandrebelliouserawhentheyoungergenerationfinallychosetobreakwithtradition.InFitzgerald'swords,"Thatisamiraculouseraandanerafullofmockery."Fitzgeraldcalledthiserathe"JazzAge".Atthattime,withtheintroductionofradioandtheendofthewar,jazzanddanceemerged.Jazzbecameanentirelynewculturalmovementinplaces,suchastheUnitedStates,EnglandandFrance.Cities,suchasNewYorkandChicago,wereculturalcentersofjazz.Inurbanareas,AfricanAmericanjazzwasplayedontheradiomoreoftenthaninthesuburbs.Theyouthof1920s,influencedbyjazz,rebelledagainstthetraditionalcultureofpreviousgenerations.TheIntroductionandAnalysisofPersonalGrowthofGatsbyTheRelationshipandLoveStorybetweenGatsbyandDaisy.2.1TheIntroductionGatsby"TheGreatGatsby"isoneofthemostrepresentativeworksofFitzgerald.Attheendof20thCentury,theUnitedStatesacademicauthorityselectedtheonehundredbestnovelsinhundredsofyearsofhistoryofEnglishLiterature,"TheGreatGatsby"enjoyedpopularconfidence,toppingthesecond,andwereproudlyamongthecontemporaryandclassicranks.Thenovelisuseofimpressionisticdescription,itsstyleisofbothwarmandcool,andithasplayedanindispensableroleinthehistoryofliteratureoftheworldforthestatusofFitzgerald.ThisnovelisnarratedbyNick,ayoungbachelorwhoreturnstotheMidwestbeforesettingtotheNewYorkCity.Daisy,theheroine,isNick’ssecondcousinandNickknowsofherhusband,Tom.Withthedevelopmentofthenovel,Nickknowsthathisnext-doorneighboristhewealthyGatsby，whoalwayshostinglavishpartiesofhundredsofpeoples,JordanBakertakesinterestsinNick,andherevealsthatIn1917GatsbyasArmyLieutenantstationednearDaisy’shometownandthenhadfalleninlovewithDaisy.ButGatsbyhadnomoneytomarryDaisy,soDaisywas2marriedtothewealthyTom,afterthatGatsbyisaimingtobeamillionaire.Withfewyearsofsmuggling,Gatsbyaccumulatesagreatamountofwealth.HewouldlikeNicktoarrangeameetingwithDaisy,andNickagreestoinviteGatsbyandDaisytohishouse,sotheybeginaloveaffairagain.Butactually,Daisyonlytreatsthisrelationshipasanexcitinggame.DaisyinvitesGatsbyandNicktohermansionandTomfindsthatGatsbylovesDaisy.TomknowsDaisy’snatureverywell.AndbytakingawayDaisy’sfinancialsecurity,TomthinksthatDaisyisnowbeyondhisreach.Becauseofthesituationbetweenthem,DaisyrunsoutofthehotelandGatsbyfollowsherintohiscar.Daisyinsistsondrivingbecauseitwillcalmhermoods.ButinthelaterDaisyknocksdownandkillsMyrtle,Tom’smistress.GatsbyabsolveDaisyfromherguiltytoprotecther.AfterthatTomtalksintoMyrtle’shusbandtoshootGatsbydead.Sothemagicbubbleofloveanddreamsbrokeup.DespiteNick’sefforts,onlyGatsby’sfather,awomanandNickattendhisfuneral.DiscussingwithTomandDaisy,Nickreturnstohishometown,reflectingonGatsby’sdreamsandcyclicalnatureofthepast2.2Daisy’sPersonalitiesandValuesaboutLoveandWealthDaisyBuchanan,leadingladyofthenovelTheGreatGatsby,whoisthesymbolofbeautyandwealthrepresentsthemostgorgeousthinginGatsby’sminds.Shewasbornandraisedinupperclass,whichmadeherexposedtotheworldthatisdominatedbythemammonistandmaterialism.Thenovelstartedwiththefollowingsentences:“Thenwearthegoldenhat,ifthatwillmoveher;Ifyoucanbouncehigh,bounceforhertoo;Tillshecried:Lover,goldenhatted,highbouncinglover,Imusthaveyou!”AndtheauthorFitzgerald’sattitudetowardbeautyoftentimesseemsmoralistic;corruptiondwellswithbeauty,evilhidesitselfthere.Theequationofbeautywithsinappearsinmanystories.SoitisinevitablethatDaisybecametheembodimentofangelsanddemons.Daisyhasmorepassionforwealththanlove,inordertoprotectherself,shecaneasilychangeherfeelingsandloveaboutGatsby.Selfishnessandruthlessnessarethethemesofheressence,whichcanfreeherfromthedistractionanddutyofherfeelingaboutGatsby.Fitzgerald’saccuratedescriptionofDaisy’scharactersfurtherrevealsthethemesofhiswork.IntheGreatGatsby,ManyyoungmenhavepassionforDaisy’sappearancejustthesameastheirpassionforAmericanDream.AlthoughDaisy’sbeautyalsomakesAmericanDreammoreattractiveandalluring,hercrueltyandruthlessnessalsoindicatesthatAmericanDreamisnothingbutvanity.4.3TheEndingofTheirLoveAffairsTheIronicMeaningofGatsby’sDeathandtheRevealofCapitalism’sCrueltyThe“AmericanDream"ofGatsbyalsoshowsinhis"wealthdream".TeformernameofGatsbyknownas“JayGats",hisparentswerecropspersonofmediocrity,hewaseagertogetridofpoverty,andrankedamongtheupperclassofsociety.Attheageof17yearsold,GatsmetamanwhonamedDanCody,andgotfortunebytheillegalbehaviors.LittleGatsadmiredhimverymuch,andthenhechangedhisnameintoGatsbyandfollowedCody.Gatsbytooktheidealfocusedontheacquiringofwealth.BecausewhenDanCodywassober,heknewifhewasdrunk,hewoulddomanystupidthings,likeprofligacy.SohegrewtotrustGatsbyinordertopreventthiskindofaccidentsfromhappening.AfterDanCodydied,GatsbyusedhisheritagewhichwasgainedfromDanCodytoillegalsaleprivatewine,andamassedalargeoffortune.ButforGatsbynomatterhowrich,hestilltriedtoblendintheuppercircleswhichhehaslongwanted,justbecauseofhishumblebirth.Finally,hehasbecometheirexcellentmaterialofsuspicionandrumorsfortheupperclassoftheso-calledcelebrities.Asconstantlysuspicionofpeople,hisillegalbusinesseswereeventuallyexposedbyTom.Heworkedhardtocreatematerialwealth,anditdidnothelphimachievepursuit,hisdreamofwealthwasshattered.AfterGatsbywasdied,theformerguestsdidnotshowupinhisfuneralwhichNickheldforhim,bleakanddesolateinthefuneralandhustleandbustleoftheformerpartywereclearlyconstitutedasharpcontrast,itshowedthathedidnotgettherecognitionoftheupperclass.Althoughduringthattimefreedomandequalityhavebeenadvocated,thesocialhierarchywasstillexists.JayGatsbymadealleffortstosqueezeintothe-upperclass,andhebecametobeadmiredandrespectedbyotherpeople.Hewantseverythingthatamanofnoblebirthhas:alargeamountofmoney,asplendidmansionandasatisfactorymarriage.Afterheobtainsthesethings,hegainsmoneyatallcosts,hehostspartyfrequentlyinhismansiontoshowhisriches,andhepursuesDaisyasaqualifiedwifeforadecentman.ThedescriptioninChapterthreegivesusavividpictureabouttheextravaganceofGatsby’slife:Therewasmusicfrommyneighbor’shousethroughthesummernights.Inhisbluegardensmenandgirlscameandwentlikemothsamongthewhisperingandchampagneandthestars.(F.ScottFitzgerald,1993.26)Besidesshowingoffhiswealth,heevenchangedhisnametocoveruphishumblebirth.WhenNickaskedabouthislife,heliedthathewasbeingraisedinadecentMiddleWestfamilyandgraduatedfromOxford.Allthesefactsshowthathedesirestobeamemberoftheupperclassofsociety.Gatsbysimplybelievedthattheywillregardhimashonorablepeopleaslongasotherpeoplegettoknowhiswealth.Butthefactwasthatnomatterhowhewasrichandhestillcannotbeacceptedbyupperclass.AtGatsby’sparty,peoplearetalkedabouthisidentityandthesourceofhismoney;someoneassumedthathehadkilledamanwhilesomeonethoughthewasaGermanspy.AdrunkenmancouldnotbelievethatthosebooksonthebookshelvesinGatsby’slibrarywerereal.AllofrelationshipsbetweenpeopleandGatsbywerebasedonbenefit,whenGatsbydiestheyjustbreaklikesoapbubbles.AndthatisthereasonwhynofriendsattendedGatsby’sfuneralintheendofthenovel.ThedeathofGatsbyisalsothedisillusionofhisAmericanDream.TheInevitabilityoftheDisillusionmentofGatsby’sAmericanDreamSincetheAmericanDreamcameintobeing,ithasalwaysbeenthepursuitforAmericannations.Thisdreamitselfsupposestobedynamicandvital,butGatsby’sstoriestoldusthatitisnot.Ifakindofdreamonlyyarnsforthewealthandstatus,lacking,thiskindofdreamisnothingbutvanityandshorteye-sightedwithouttheextensionductilityofdreams.Whenwealthandstatusmeanseverything,theAmericandreamisnotwhatitsupposestobe.Nosocietythatsolelydependsonhighlevelmateriallifecanmakepeoplefulfilltheirdreamsforalongtime.Humanbeingshaveaurgentneedfortheirspiritsandminds,andonlythespirituallifehavemuchpotentialforultimatedevelopment.Thisisafundamentalissueconcerningtheexistenceforhumans.Allkindsofdreamsthatonlyfocusonthematerialaredoomedtovanishintoair.TakingGatsbyasanexample,hetriedhisbesttointegrateintotheupperclass,butthetruthisthathecanneverbecomeoneofthem.EverythingthatGatsbyachievedisbasedonhisimitation,whichiscausedbyhisownself-abasement.Thiskindofself-abasementshowsupwhenhemadeuphispastandlifeexperience,forci