The Illusion of the American Dream
The video I have posted above is a link to a song written by Alicia Keys, about
New York and its promise. This illusion that New York is the place ‘where
dreams are made of’ is similar to the illusion that existed in 1920’s New York.
In The Great Gatsby we see America in the microcosm of New York City, where all
classes are pitted fairly close together. In Gatsby, the American Dream seems
to be this wonderful lavish place, where money is no object, yet ironically
money is the sole object that the lives of all classes revolve around. Similarly
back then New York was where you ‘made it big’, a city full of opportunity and wealth.
This illusion is still very much alive today; every typical American film is
set in New York, endless songs written about its promise for success. Even I am
guilty when it comes to the American Dream the first thing I associate it with
is New York, Wall Street etc. all of those evolve around money. Whereas the
American Dream used to stand for independence and the ability to make something
of one's self with hard work, in Gatsby, the American Dream seems more about
materialism and selfish pursuit of pleasure. This illusion is present in both 1920's New York in 'Gatsby', and is still very much present in today's society.
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