Abstract
The Great Gatsby, as the icon of 20th century American Novel generated a wide range of criticism and reactions, since its publication in 1925. J Gatsby is believed to be an undeniably true American following his American dream.He strongly believes in his success by employing all the means he owns. This is the force behind Gatsby's strong but blind belief in the fantasy of his ideally sketched future. Although he achieves his dream of financial success hetragically falls. Any classic tragic fall, definitely, claims a tragic hero guilty of a tragic flaw. Psychoanalytic studies have been conducted to identify the inner causes of this fall related to the lack of family, secured social position andhis desires. This paper, however, attempts to bring the external destructive agents of this modern tragic hero into the spotlight. The opportunity to earn wealth, to construct a fake social identity and to believe that the impossible ispossible pushes him down the hill. And that is nothing more than the very American Dream itself. This includes the possibility of social mobility, connecting with the members of higher social ranks and the wealth facilitating him touse the machinery and the new inventions of the age.
Highlights
Benjamin Franklin's transfiguration from a poor apprentice to the first millionaire of the United States imprinted its impact on the American culture
After the American Civil War, the newly established America promised the satisfaction of all worldly desires and the equal social and economic opportunities for all people regardless of their social and economic status
This study identifies three agents that were both the stimulus and the tool by which J.Gatsby attempts to achieve his dream; social mobility, love and machinery
Summary
Benjamin Franklin's transfiguration from a poor apprentice to the first millionaire of the United States imprinted its impact on the American culture. Tired of European social class discrimination and dull traditions, people, from any social rank, rich or poor, sailed to the land to start anew and give birth to their new identity They have been persuaded that America is the promising land of their dreams. This social condition of America, that affected the whole world as Walt Whitman had foretold,(High, 1986) gave rise to themes and characters of American literature and turned to be one of the central themes of various works of Literature. Callahan justifies as polarities of American experience (2006), whereas it can be considered as the lurking reality in the innards of the overwhelming American Dream
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Malaysian Journal of Languages and Linguistics (MJLL)
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
