The Great Gatsby And Of Mice And Men - 1405 Words

In the novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Of Mice and Men’ F Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck respectively explore the complex perspective of the true outcome of the American Dream. Although set within different eras of American society, the extensive failure of dreams throughout both texts shows how the American Dream is destined for annihilation despite the intention of hope and happiness. In its original form the American Dream encapsulated the ideal that ‘equality of opportunity is available to any American allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved’. ’The Great Gatsby’ follows its protagonist Jay Gatsby who sets his life around his desire of reuniting Daisy Buchanan, the lost love of his life, through the eyes of Nick†¦show more content†¦Crooks however dismisses these beliefs by referencing other ranch workers, â€Å"hundreds of men†, to be exact, who have the same aspirations of owning their own land but â€Å"God damn one of em’ ever gets it.† The culmination of both texts simply resides that once the potential of the American Dream becomes a reality it results in the collapse of everyone’s dreams and aspirations. The social hierarchy is influenced by the amount of money one owns which determines whether one can attain their dream. By creating apparent social classes within ‘The Great Gatsby’ – old money, new money and no money, Fitzgerald strongly suggests that American society is intensely stigmatised. Daisy, Tom and Jordan represent the elite social class of society where despite their problems and failures they are always protected and immune by their wealth. Tom refers to Gatsby as ‘Mr Nobody from nowhere† and a â€Å"common swindler who would have to steal the ring he put on her finger† as he boasts about his hereditary wealth compared to the other distinct elite group of society who acquire their wealth through business deals, which are sometimes corrupt. Although Fitzgerald mainly attacks the rich, by making them look judgemental, superior and selfish, evidently the lower class of society are vulnerable within American society. This is shown where so many, like Myrtle,Show MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby And Of Mice And Men989 Words   |  4 Pagesdreams. Furthermore, in the novels, The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men, the authors do a prodigious job representing the many different circumstances of the American dream through the characters and overall plot of the book. The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald about many diverse characters who live in a town known as West Egg, however not all of the characters enjoy themselves here. Throughout the book, individuals like Jay Gatsby make it clear that they have their own goalsRead MoreThe Great Gatsby vs of Mice and Men1818 Words   |  8 Pagesbe used as a false promise of success. This notion is explored through the texts The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men written by F.Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck respectively. The Great Gatsby was first published in 1926. The novel is set in the summer of 1922 and follows the life of Jay Gatsby who tries to get the love of his life back, Daisy Buchanan, through his wealth and social status. Of Mice and Men follows the lives of George Milton and Lennie Small who are migrant farm workers. LennieRead MoreDreaming the Dream in The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men1194 Words   |  5 Pagesdetermination has attracted people from all around the world. Two writers from America’s past, however, have a different opinion on the once-great American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck have given the public their beliefs on the modern Dream through the novels they have written, The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men, respectively. One novel placed during the Great Depression and the other during the Roaring Twenties both illustrate how their author feels about the Dream itself through the useRead MoreOf Mice And Men And The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1699 Words   |  7 PagesIn Of Mice Men and The Great Gatsby, how do people’s American Dream differ, what do they have in common, and how do people feel about the dreams of others? The American Dream. The idea of fulfilling your life’s dreams, whether to marry, to retire, to buy a house or to fall in love, is a theme commonly shared in both Of Mice Men by John Steinbeck and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In Of Mice Men, best friends George and Lennie travel from ranch to ranch in the hope of finally earningRead More The American Dream in Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, Two Kinds, and Sophistication1537 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Dream in Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Two Kinds writer by Amy Tan, and in â€Å"Sophistication† by Sherwood Anderson. Working hard is the key to success. This struggle for success is most commonly called the â€Å"American Dream.† The aspect of the American Dream has been around forever and is often the underlying theme in many pieces of American literature. The theme of the American is especially presented in Of Mice and Men written by John SteinbeckRead MoreA Comparison Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby1224 Words   |  5 Pagesset belief that is exactly the same for everyone, but that also means that there should not be any limitation on who can accomplish the American Dream. To show evidence of this claim I will use 2 classic novels as examples, The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men. The Great Gatsby is a novel set in the roaring 20s, a decade of pop culture, new dance styles and ways to dress. It was a time where people were fighting prohibition and going against moral standards. This time was also called the Jazz Age becauseRead MoreIs It Really A Dream?933 Words   |  4 Page sthis dream. But over time, the idea of this dream has been criticized. In The Great Gatsby and in Of Mice and Men, F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck present the idea of searching for the American Dream as ineffectual, only supplying moral corruption and disappointment. In the article The Demise of the 1920s American Dream in The Great Gatsby, the para-graphs discuss diverse cultural elements shown in The Great Gatsby: During the 1920s, the perception of the American Dream was that an individualRead MoreThe Theme Of Money In The Great Gatsby879 Words   |  4 Pagesconsistently expressed throughout two novels, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Fitzgerald’s novel considers money primarily through the life of a wealthy man who flourishes in life, whose name is Gatsby. On the other hand, Steinbeck’s novel describes the story of two men, who have a limited supply of money and no accomplishments to boast about whatsoever. The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men show that great success and quality of life is determined by whoRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1551 Words   |  7 Pageswhich also symbolizes braveness. What makes this land so iconic and great isn t its status but it s exceptionally distinctive people. Americans aren t a specific type of people, but a mixture of people from all over the world that live in harmony. That is the reason why Americans are so unique and so hard to be defined. Being developed by great American novels such as the The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and The Catcher in the Rye, there is now a universal definition forRead MoreAnalysis Of Of Mice And Men 903 Words   |  4 PagesThe character in Of Mice and Men that is most similar to Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby is Curley. Curley and Tom Buchanan have many similarities throughout both books. These shared characteristics stem from one thing both men have an abundance of: privilege. Curley and Tom are easily two characters with the least amount of struggle in The Great Gatsby and Of Mice and Men. Inheritance of power is prevalent in both Tom and Curley’s lives. Tom lives in East Egg, known for â€Å"old money† and high