The novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the decline of the American Dream during the 1920s. The American Dream is the idea that anyone can achieve success through hard work and determination, regardless of their background or social class. However, in the novel, this dream is shown to be unattainable, even for those who have achieved great wealth and success.
The characters in the novel are all striving to achieve their own versions of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby, for example, has become incredibly wealthy through illegal means in order to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. However, despite his wealth and extravagance, he is unable to win Daisy's heart and ultimately ends up alone and unhappy.
Similarly, Daisy herself is unable to find happiness, despite her wealth and social status. She is trapped in an unhappy marriage with Tom Buchanan and is unable to escape the societal expectations of her class and gender. Her desire for love and happiness, which represents a key aspect of the American Dream, is ultimately unfulfilled.
The characters in the novel are also shown to be morally corrupt and lacking in values. They are consumed by their own desires and selfishness, and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. This is exemplified by the parties that Gatsby throws, which are lavish and extravagant but also hedonistic and morally bankrupt.
The novel thus demonstrates that the pursuit of wealth and success, which are key aspects of the American Dream, can lead to moral decay and the loss of true happiness. The characters in the novel are unable to find meaning and purpose in their lives, despite their wealth and success, and are ultimately left feeling empty and unfulfilled. This suggests that the American Dream, as it is commonly understood, is a flawed and unrealistic ideal that cannot be achieved through material wealth alone.
Furthermore, the novel also highlights the corruption and decay of American society during the 1920s, which is characterized by excess, decadence, and moral decay. The characters in the novel are shown to be part of a wealthy and privileged class that is disconnected from the struggles and realities of ordinary Americans. This highlights the growing social and economic inequality of the time, which is a direct contradiction of the American Dream's promise of equal opportunity and upward mobility.
Overall, "The Great Gatsby" demonstrates the decline of the American Dream by showing that wealth and success alone cannot bring happiness or fulfillment. The characters in the novel are trapped in a world that is corrupt and morally bankrupt, and are unable to escape the societal expectations and inequalities that define their lives. This suggests that the American Dream, as it is commonly understood, is a myth that cannot be achieved through material wealth alone, but requires a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in life.