"The Great Gatsby" Final Essay

  F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" depicts the withering of the American Dream through the tale of Jay Gatsby, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway. Jay Gatsby grew up a poor farm boy who worked relentlessly to make a name and fortune for himself, the Buchanan's lived in a lavish mansion, and Nick Carraway was back from The War with old family money to his name. However, while all seem to be well off, each character is miserable in their own way.

  Jay Gatsby grew up poor on his family farm out west. When Gatsby reached the age of seventeen, he left his family and past behind to partake in sketchy business to make a large salary. Before Jay Gatsby left to fight in World War I, he met a young girl by the name of Daisy. Fresh from the farm with hardly a penny to his name, he made a promise to return to Daisy one day with more than enough money to provided for their life together. When Jay Gatsby returned home, he learned that the then Ms. Daisy found a man of money, Mr. Tom Buchanan. Gatsby moved to a large mansion in West Egg, right across the bay from the Buchanan's. Gatsby believe that now since he had more than enough money, he would be able to win the heart of Daisy Buchanan again. Daisy and Gatsby began to see each other privately during the afternoons. As the affair continued, one day the Buchanan's, Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and Jordan took a trip to the city to try to escape the boiling temperatures. Daisy and Tom got into a fight about her affair, and Gatsby pleaded for Daisy to leave Tom for him. Upset, Daisy ran out of the room and Gatsby followed. Upon driving home, Myrtle Wilson, who was married to George Wilson and Tom Buchanan's misstress, ran out into the street thinking she saw Tom driving. Myrtle was struck by the car and instantly killed. Even though Daisy was driving the car at the time Myrtle was run over, Gatsby took the blame to ease her mind. Tom was shocked over the death of his misstress, and told George Wilson that is was Jay Gatsby's car that hit her. In a state of extreme dispair, George Wilson showed up at Gatsby's house where he shot Gatsby to death, and then pulled the trigger on himself. In the end, all of Gatsby's work only got him a luxuorious mansion, and a brief affair with Daisy. Through Gatsby's tale of success then heart breaking demise, Fitzgerald shows that money cannot buy one happiness.

  Tom and Daisy Buchanan also lived in a large mansion in West Egg. Their lives were not difficult in the money sense because they came from a family background of good money. While Tom had a beautiful wife, daughter, wealth, and a nice house, he still was not satisfied. Tom Buchanan has an affair with George Wilson's wife Myrtle, whom he frequently spends time with and buys expensive gifts for. Unfortunately, Myrtle is killed, but ironically because Tom's wife Daisy was driving the car that hit Myrtle. Daisy Buchanan is also miserable with her marriage, even though she has such wealth, because she simply does not love Tom. To make matters between her and her husband worse, Jay Gatsby reappears in her life. She also has an affair, but seems to love Gatsby in a different way than before. Daisy is amazed at Gatsby's wealth, and his willingness to buy her anything her heart desires. Daisy appears to love Gatsby more for his money, than when she just loved him before. Sadly, Jay Gatsby also met a similar demise, and was killed by Myrtle's husband, George Wilson. Even though Tom and Daisy were wealthy, neither one of them was happy with their relationship. Tom snuck off with Myrtle for lustful reasons, and Daisy snuck off with Gatsby on a pursuit of money. 

  Nick Carraway is the narrator of the book, and our insite to the many characters and twisted stories. Nick is fresh from the battle field of World War I, and living in a modest home between Jay Gatsby and the Buchanan's. Nick Carraway plays a part in showing the withering of the American Dream through befriending Gatsby, and being awkwardly caught between Tom and Daisy's strained relationship. As Nick and Gatsby's friendship grows, he begins to learn more about how Gatsby became to be. Nick learns of Gatsby's plan to better himself, and admires him for his success. WHen Gatsby is killed, Nick takes over the planning for his funeral. Nick begins to call around to invite people to pay their last respects, but is dissapointed and appaled that the only people to attend Gatsby's funeral was his father, Nick, the house servants, and the owl eyed man from one of Gatsby's extravagant parties. No one showing up to Gatsby's funeral showed Nick that even though Gatsby was very wealthy, and many people came to his parties, Gatsby died alone; all the money and material items were left there, and Gatsby died a young unmarried man. Reality also hits Nick after the fight between Daisy and Tom in New York City. Soon after Daisy storms out of the room, Nick stops and realizes it was his 30th birthday. Here he was 30, unmarried, and with a decent house and amount of money. Nick sees that even though Tom and Daisy appear to have a lovely and wealthy life, they are both miserable. Nick takes his experiences with Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy and learns that his modest lifestyle is okay because he is happy. He is not wealthy, yet miserable like his friends.

  Many believe that the American Dream is something easily obtained, and will make them eternally happy. "The Great Gatsby" is a spot on view of how even those with more than enough money still aren't satisfied, and can be just as miserable or worse than those with little to no money.