Fitzgerald criticized the American Dream in The Great Gatsby through Gatsby and Wilson, and symbols such as Gatsby’s car. The American Dream is the pursuit of materialism, centralism, and idealized love. Gatsby’s character partially fulfilled the American Dream, but kept on pushing for the final part of the dream, even though he had lots of money, he had to get back his true love, Daisy. The characterization of Wilson describes how he devoted …showed first 75 words of 722 total…

…showed last 75 words of 722 total…those who try to maintain a lifestyle based purely on materialistic values are doomed by their self-delusion. The novel becomes an exploration of the American Dream, challenging it. Wilson uses the American Dream as a goal to strive for. Wilson works his whole life to achieve it and in return receives nothing. Gatsby, lured on by Daisy, who is no more than a symbol for him, pursues the green light and is eve6ntually destroyed.