The Great Gatsby Essay, Research Paper

The American Dream remains viewed as the success which one obtains. The American Dream has had a great impact on literature every bit good as an impact on the changing of clip periods. The nineteenth century Transcendentalists? thought of the American Dream focuses on making one? s ends by honest, difficult work. On the other manus, Gatsby? s thought of the American Dream in the twentieth century centres on going successful by manner of illegal money that was non acquired through working. Ultimately, the Transcendental and Gatsby? s beliefs reveal a great trade of contrast.

The American Dream of the Transcendentalists centres on being all that one is meant to be. First of wholly, the thoughts of the Transcendentalists did non go around around society and mercenary ownerships. Transcendentalists felt that? society everyplace is in confederacy against the manhood of everyone of its members? ( from Self-Reliance 194 ) . Besides, Transcendentalists believed that? The state itself, with all its alleged internal betterments, which, by the manner, are all external and superficial, is merely such an unmanageable and overgrown constitution, cluttered with furniture and tripped up by its ain traps, ruined by luxury and heedless disbursal? ( from Where I Lived and What I Lived For 212 ) and for which the lone remedy is simpleness. In add-on, Transcendentalists believed that adult male should populate life to the fullest by seeking to make their possible. Thoreau? did non wish to take a cabin transition, but instead to travel before the mast and on the deck of the universe, for there I [ Thoreau ] could outdo see the moonshine amid the mountains? ( from Conclusion 217 ) . Seeking to make one? s possible agencies that one must? Shrive you to yourself, and you should hold the right to vote of the universe? ( from Self-Reliance 194 ) . Furthermore, the Transcendentalists sought self-knowledge through the survey of nature. ? Nature ne’er became a plaything to a wise spirit. The flowers, the animate beings, the mountains, reflected the wisdom of his best hr, every bit much as they had delighted the simpleness of his childhood? ( from Nature 191 ) . ? The life in us is like the H2O in the river? ( from Conclusion 217 ) because some yearss one rises like the river and submerge out all of 1s jobs. Most significantly, the thoughts of nonc

onformity and individuality illustrate the Transcendentalist beliefs. ? Whoso would be a adult male must be a Nonconformist? ( from Self-Reliance 194 ) shows that every adult male should hold a alone quality that separates him from other work forces. If a adult male does non maintain gait with his comrades, possibly it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, nevertheless measured or far off? ( from Conclusion 217 ) .

Although the Transcendentalists believed in honestness and working hard to make their ends, Gatsby acquired his money as rapidly and every bit wrongfully as possible without working. Initially, Gatsby felt that society and mercenary ownerships made the better individual. Owning a sign of the zodiac, many autos, a pool, a seaplane, and many retainers, Gatsby viewed his mercenary wealth as the agencies by which he would be accepted by society. In add-on, Gatsby did non populate his life to the fullest in order to make his possible. Gatsby could hold been more than a boot-legger and a gambler, but he chose the manner that would convey him wealth and what he thought was felicity. Furthermore, he did non seek cognition through nature, but through money. Money bought Gatsby everything he needed to cognize. The closest Gatsby came to nature was traveling for a drive in his seaplane which he rarely did. Most significantly, the thoughts of nonconformity and individuality in The Great Gatsby straight contrast from those values of Transcendentalism. Everyone in this book feels that they must move a certain manner to be accepted by society. Gatsby? s usage of? old athletics? illustrates his perceptual experience of a rich adult male. Gatsby besides feels that possessing the finest of everything remains the ground why society accepts him.

The American Dreams of the Transcendentalists and of Gatsby straight contrast one another. The Transcendentalists do non believe in mercenary ownership whereas the key to Gatsby? s success is his mercenary wealth. While the Transcendentalists strive to make their possible, Gatsby accepts a free drive to the top of society. Undoubtedly, as clip alterations, the American Dreams are bound to alter ; nevertheless, one facet will ever stay the same, and that is obtaining the satisfaction of success.The American DreamRobert Brown

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