Jay Gatsby's Corruption of the American Dream

One of Gatsby's greatest errors is his failure to realize that the people with whom he surrounds himself practice this blend of honesty and dishonesty for the specific purpose of maintaining the status quo. Gatsby, on the other hand, has created his ladder of lies in an attempt to change the world he seeks to enter. Jordan Baker's statements serve as verbal markers in the book for the casual honesty the East Egg people practice. Within the first few hours of meeting Nick Carraway, the narrator, she reveals to him that Tom Buchanan is having an affair. What is so astonishing about her revelation is that she does it at Tom's table while he and Daisy are in the other room apparently arguing about the affair. She reveals the information so matter-of-factly, as though it were just so much coffee-table talk:

A subdued impassioned murmur was audible in the room beyond and Miss Baker leaned forward, unashamed, trying to hear. The murmur trembled on the v

. . .
a sort of military exchange student, but it allows him an entree into the East Egg World by being able to say he was "at Oxford." However, James Gatz, regardless of how many times he changes his name, never lived on the East Egg. He lived on the West Egg, to which Jordan refers "contemptuously" (Fitzgerald 15). He has apparently earned his wealth by bootlegging. Thus, while when we meet him his external shell appears as close to an East Egg person as anyone possibly could, the internal shell does not really understand that world. By acquiring his wealth through bootlegging activities, Gatsby symbolizes the hollowing of the American Dream. The Dream began as a belief that hard work and sacrifice would eventually lead to material rewards. These rewards would be based on the honor and mettle of the man. The East Egg contingency, however, appears to be living largely off of inherited money. They are reaping the benefits without having to do any of the work. Thus, they represent one type of corruption of the Dream. Gatsby, however, represents another type. The Dream was also based on the belief that hard work and sacrifice would build a business of which the creator could be proud. Gatsby's business enterprises are more tha
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
East Egg, Dream Gatsby, James Gatz, Nick Anyhow, Unfortunately Gatsby, Daisy Gatsby, Miss Baker, Tom Buchanan, Wolfshiem Gatsby's, Jay Gatsby, east egg, casual honesty, egg people, east egg people, james gatz, jay gatsby, east egg world, egg world, honesty east egg, statement reveals, honesty east, unfortunately gatsby, american dream, casual honesty east, belief hard sacrifice,
Approximate Word count = 1976
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Jay Gatsby Corruption of the American Dream