Jay Gatsby and the American Dream F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is a glimpse into the elite social circles of Long Island society during the prosperous period of the 1920’s. In this decade a class of "new rich" was born, and the class of "old rich" enjoyed continued prosperity. Gatsby showcases the conflict between the two groups, as the newly rich tried to carve a place for themselves in the exclusive social …showed first 75 words of 1347 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1347 total…barriers drive him to constantly strive for his dream, even until death. Even in America’s financial golden age, the exclusive powerful make it impossible for "Mr. Nobody from Nowhere" to climb the social ladder. Fitzgerald shows that this American dream which so many have pursued, is corrupt, and is an impossibility. The average American, like Gatsby, will always remain separated by the bay, only able to watch our own green lights from a distance.