Part 2 Sorensen Chen how The Great Gatsby indicates the truth of American Dream?

American Dream has been promoted by American government for generations. It encourages the public to join their country as this land allows people to realize their dreams freely. On the other hand, the Declaration of Independence also ensures that their legal rights would not be damaged. However, people who are successful are so arrogant that they are used to looking down on the poor or unlucky. On the other side, people who are offended could not defend for themselves because all opporunities they own are provided by the rich. Ameican Dream could not be realized in this way. Because people have no accesss to the success equally.We could aslo find out the example in the novel The Great Gatsby.

In the novel The Great Gatsby, a book indiicates lifestyles of people who belong to high class in detail, this phemomenon appears as well. For example, Tom, a successful businessman from Old Money, shows no respect for the poor.What’s more. He even claimed a poor man’s wife by money. However, Mr. Wilson could not defend for himself because Tom would give his a great business. Let’s look at the quotation from the novel ( When Tom and Wilson are talking about their business): “ I can’t complain.” answered Wilson, “ When are you going to sell me that car?” “ Next week; I have got my man working on it now.” “ Works pretty slow, don’t he?” “if you feel that way about it, maybe I’d better sell it someone else after all.” “I don’t mean that,” explained Wilson quickly.

 

TOM, an Old Money, shows no respect for the poor

As we know, the only reason why Tom would recommend the business to Wilson is just that he could have access to Wilson’s wife easily. Otherwise, it is impossible for Wilson to get such a great deal. To continue this situation, Tom makes an excuse that his car is still useful. It’s clear that even though Wilson is not satisfied with his excuse, he could not negotiate with Tom because only Tom gives him this chance to earn money. One of the shortcomings of American Dream is shown here. According to the Declaration of Independence, every American citizen should have equal opportunities to realize their dream. However, in this story, Wilson’s family is so weak that they have to rely on those people who are wealthy could recommend the business to them. It’s clear that people are not equal at all. What’s more. No one is allowed to be against others’ legal rights. However, Tom could damage their dignities easily. On the other hand, Gatsby, a wealthy man who belongs to New Money also shows no respect for or ignores the poor.

 Compared with two examples in the novel, the meaning expressed by the picture in Part 1 is proved as well: The change of prople's attitudes towards others depend on their circumstances. Once they become successful, what could not be avoided is that they would be arrogant and claim the poor and unlucky, the standard of American Dream is broken.

The country could not afford to meet everyone’s needs because of the variety of the public’s desire. The limit of resources ensures that American Dream is just a kind of idealism. What’s more. Those people who have been successful enjoy judging or treating others whether they are successful by their own standards. However, accoring to the definition of American Dream, everyone has different goals to chase. Those successful people have no rights to damage others’ legal rights. Under this circumstance, this behavior would be against the Declaration of Independence. Thus, American Dream is impossible to be realized in this way because of the superiority caused bythe class division.