Final answer:
Jay Gatsby in 'The Great Gatsby' embodies the classic pursuit of the American Dream—earning wealth and status to achieve personal goals. Yet, Fitzgerald also presents the dream as ultimately unattainable, showing how societal corruption can undermine genuine fulfillment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby', the character Jay Gatsby is emblematic of the pursuit of the American Dream. Gatsby defines the dream as achieving wealth and social status in order to win back the love of Daisy Buchanan, representing both personal success and romantic fulfillment. His entire life is a testament to the idea that one can reinvent themselves and rise above their past through determination and hard work. This aligns with the traditional concept of the American Dream being attainable through sheer grit and ambition.
However, Fitzgerald also portrays the unattainable side of the dream through Gatsby's tragic end, suggesting that allure and opulence are sometimes nothing more than illusive goals. Gatsby's dream is corrupted by the society he wishes to infiltrate, which values wealth above all else. Despite his monetary success and lavish parties, Gatsby's dream remains unfulfilled, ultimately making a statement about the American Dream's promise of happiness and its potential hollow core when achieved without genuine personal fulfillment.