Perspective on the American Dream

This paper analyzes how the American Dream of prosperity and wealth as initially identified in The Great Gatsby is no longer achievable because of the wealth disparities noticeable in Gibney’s Park Avenue.

Running head: PERSPECTIVE ON THE AMERICAN DREAM 1
Perspective on the American Dream Paper
Student Name
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Perspective on the American Dream
Introduction
Both Fitzgerald and Gibney’s works reveal the apparent loss of perfect democracy which,
in its substance, represented the perception of America as the land of opportunity. For nearly a
century, America provided the possibility for prosperity, assertiveness, persistence, and riches.
The characters in the Park Avenue documentary, therefore, represent the current degradation and
corruptness of the American society, whereas those in The Great Gatsby show the rise in
materialism. Consequently, this paper analyzes how the American Dream of prosperity and
wealth as initially identified in The Great Gatsby is no longer achievable because of the wealth
disparities noticeable in Gibney’s Park Avenue.
1. Support Your Thesis Statement by Comparing the Concept in Each Text
Fitzgerald’s book symbolizes a new era and generation in American history in which
individuals were hugely liberated after World War I, and had started to realize the beauties
behind all that was illegal. His works thus provide insight into a civilization that had been hoping
for a bright and glittering future after being put through hostilities caused by their naivety
(Nakić, 2014). In Gibney’s documentary, the main focus is on the wealthy and powerful
individuals who reside in Park Avenue in New York. These countable individuals appear to have
control over finances and politics both in the United States and globally. Most people who hear
the name Park Avenue automatically associate it with a neighborhood located in New York
City’s affluent Upper East Side. However, there is another Park Avenue, more commonly
referred to as South Bronx, located across the river which is inhabited by a few of the poorest
people globally (Gibney, 2013).

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Per the American Dream, people living in the South Bronx could one day reside in the
prestigious side of Park Avenue if only they were willing to work as hard as the elite Park
Avenue residents did (Ng, 1993). Fitzgerald also displays this belief in the American Dream
through the use of Nick Carraway, an internal narrator, whose observations reflect objective
thinking, and the possibility that people could still become successful through determination and
their efforts. Though, the author’s reluctance at the likelihood of success was made visible
through Gatsby’s abrupt death, which could be interpreted to signify a failure in the real
realization of the American Dream despite the accumulation of great wealth. Similarly, Gibney’s
documentary revealed the sad truth that the possibility of moving to Park Avenue from South
Bronx is highly unlikely because the wealthy had already rigged the game of wealth and
influence in their favor (Chow, 2000).
2. Analyze How These Texts Use Aesthetic Features and Stylistic Devices for Particular
Effects
The Great Gatsby employs imagery to depict the characteristics of literature written
during the jazz age. He used imaginary portraits of the young and glamorous as representatives
of the wealthy living their American Dream of prosperity, money, and happiness; their lives
could, thus, never experienced grief or tragedy (Adams, 1941). Fitzgerald also used the theory of
naturalism to show the motives behind specific situations, for example, the fact that it was more
important to attain a particular goal despite the potential consequences. Naturalism is evident in
the success of Meyer Wolfsheim, a sports gambler known for having escaped jail because of his
wit. He also used visual characterization in Gatsby to border on travesty when he wore a pink
suit alongside the other wealthy class dressed in white. His attire left an ironic impression which
uncovered slackness and lack of emotion in the main character (Nakić, 2014).

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Granting that the two sides of Park Avenue were only two minutes apart geographically,
metaphorically, they were worlds apart concerning economic disparities and the possibility of
attaining the American Dream. The use of juxtaposition is, thus, evident in distinguishing
between the rich and poor areas of Park Avenue. Rhetorical analysis is also apparent when
Gibney appealed to the credentials of professors and psychologists to deem them reliable. For
example, the documentary starts by making a comparison between the United States and the
game of Monopoly to reveal the disparities between the rich and the poor. The film then
proceeds to make claims about the increasing corrupt laws, the wage gaps, and the wealthy few
who live in 740 Park Avenue. These claims reveal the producer’s belief about how the wealth
gap between the rich and poor is increasing in the United States, making the American Dream
reasonably unattainable in the modern world (Gibney, 2013).
3. Depict Equal Analysis of Thesis in Both Texts, and Supporting Perspectives with
Evidence from Both
America was always known as a place where anyone could work hard to make their way
to the top. However, it has recently become a place where money can purchase anything. The
wealthy have used this loophole to their advantage and have altered the political system to favor
heir selfish desires. Therefore, the Park Avenue documentary shed light on the great concern of
corruption in the American political system. It also highlights the reality that hard work no
longer pays, and can no longer guarantee the realization of the American Dream (Bondebjerg,
2014).
Additionally, in the end, The Great Gatsby supports the philosophy that those who make
their way to the top on their own are destined to fail. Gatsby failed to fully realize the American
Dream of happiness since his primary goal was to regain the love of Daisy, rather than amass

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great wealth. He could not find his place among the American golden elite because he was
incapable of giving up love which was easily dismissible among the wealthy class. By so doing,
Fitzgerald was deeply pessimistic about the conditions of American society both in the jazz era
and the future (Nakić, 2014).
Conclusion
The American Dream was the belief that anyone could succeed in society despite their
origin. In the end, both Gatsby and the inhabitants of South Bronx Park Avenue could not realize
this dream because the nation would not allow it. Ever since the debut of the book and the
documentary, the wage gap between the rich and poor has increased significantly, resulting in
more inequality of power in the government and economy (Murphy, 2010).

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References
Bondebjerg, I. (2014). Cosmopolitan Narratives: Documentary and the Global ‘Other’ .
Nordicom Review, 53-63.
Fitzegerald, S. F. (1994). The Great Gatsby. London: Penguin Books.
Gibney, A. (Director). (2013). WHY POVERTY? Park Avenue: money, power and the American
dream [Motion Picture].
Nakić, L. I. (2014). The American dream in “The Great Gatsby” by F. S. Fitzgerald.
International Journal of Languages and Literatures, 67-72.