Don't quit your daydream

     The American Dream is an ideal of happiness and wealth that many strive for in this country but often find unattainable. I believe that the pursuit of happiness, as referenced in the Declaration of Independence, is not a goal Americans should struggle to achieve. It would be better if the dream incorporated is the Greek word eudaimonia. That roughly translates to happiness being a result of living a fulfilled and meaningful life. Although that is subjective for each person, Aristotle believed this kind of life is one of “a self-discovery, perceived development of one’s best potentials, a sense of purpose and meaning in life, intense involvement in activities, investment of significant effort, and enjoyment of activities as personally expressive, deep relationships”. More money doesn’t necessarily equal a better life because you can not buy happiness, only things.

     Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby represents the American Dream in the eyes of both our narrator, Nick Carraway, and the other characters. This is because he worked hard to achieve his wealth, status, and success. He chose to flaunt his fortune with numerous parties and a luxurious home. Unfortunately, “his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it” (Fitzgerald 118). Throughout the novel, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us” (Fitzgerald 118). This green light symbolized his dream until it was gone. It demonstrated that even though he was on the journey to the so-called American ideal, he could never truly reach it. He was trapped in the past by events and relationships with Daisy and others. He just wanted to live the American dream, and how a happy life with his girl. This led to his downfall because it was too difficult of a task and the effort needed to obtain it sabotaged his chance for happiness.

     Many Americans were caught up in a materialistic view of life during this time period. Their greed led to the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression. Characters such as Tom had expensive cars and homes because the novel is set in the 1920s before all the bad events occurred. The text states "They were careless people Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together" (Fitzgerald 114). This reflects how Tom only appeared to attain the American dream because his 'wealth' kept their marriage alive when love and happiness had long since faded away.

     I find this to be often true with people who struggle in poverty. They can be limited to an unfair and unsuccessful life because it is difficult to get out of the social class of your birth. No matter how hard they work, it’s very hard to reach the top of the economic class structure. Many Americans are quick to stereotype people living in poverty as not being hard workers, and associate them with drugs, laziness and homelessness. This is not usually the case and they also don’t have the same resources to advance in the social levels. Wealth shouldn’t be something we measure with money. It should instead be defined as the satisfaction you have in life. This connects to Maslow's Hierarchy of needs in which people’s ultimate goal is to achieve self-actualization. It also includes how human motivation is generated by the need for fulfillment and personal growth and as a result, people strive to achieve their greatest potential. This reflects Gatsby’s motivation to become wealthy because he believed it was the best way to reach his full potential. He also thought that money would help him win back the heart of Daisy because at first he didn’t have the ability to support her as his wife.

     I find myself, a middle-class teenager, also trying to find eudaimonia, I have been presented with opportunities in the future to make a difference in not only my life but many others. I look forward to taking advantage of these resources because I find fulfillment in the service of others and learning about new cultures and experiences. I hope to eventually fulfill my own American dream.