Someone once asked: “Did the American Dream die in 2008, or did it die in 1920s–or did it even really exist at all?
In 2008, the United States economy hit a recession. Many lost their jobs and became unemployed and many others were forced to become homeless. After January 2008, the unemployment rate skyrocketed to an extreme high of 10% in October 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not to mention all the undocumented workers who also lost their jobs but were left unaccounted for. For many, the “American Dream” vanished right before their eyes and for others, like myself, it became harder to get by financially. So what is left to be said about the “American Dream” now? Does it no longer exist? Or did it never really exist?
In The Great Gatsby, the “American Dream” represents independence and the ability to make something of one’s self with hard work; however, it ends up being more about one’s materialistic selfishness and the pursuit of pleasure and [sexual] satisfaction. As recently reproduced by Warner Bros. Pictures along with director Baz Luhrmann, the new film adaptation of the 1925 novel, shows us a man, Jay Gatsby (Di Caprio) who works hard and has a lot of money but no matter how much money he has, no amount of hard work can change where Gatsby came from.The novel and film adaptation alike pinpoint this reality and demonstrate that hard work sometimes just isn’t enough and so the American Dream, for Gatsby at least, collapses right before his eyes.
But what does the “American Dream” really consist of and is it attainable?
The “American Dream” for many is described as the ability to own a house, a car, have a spouse and the 2.5 children (boy, girl, and pet). For others, the “American Dream” means so much more. For example, to me the “American Dream” means the ability to be able to move freely in the social class without barriers, the ability to make something of myself without anyone telling me that I can’t, the freedom that this country provides me with that other countries do not for their citizens; that to me is the “American Dream”. I want to be able to become a lawyer or a businesswoman no matter how or where I grew up. But unfortunately life isn’t that simple. For Jay Gatsby, no amount of hard work could change his past – merit and work were just not enough and so the “American Dream” collapses.
So where does that leave me now? Where does it leave us?
Of course, it leaves me with a chill up and down my spine with the fear that one day (pessimistically thinking) I may not be able to become the person that I truly want to be. However, unlike the novel and the film, I cannot let those social barriers bring me down. I cannot let society tell me what I can and cannot do. I will fight for what I believe in and in doing so prove everyone, who ever told me otherwise, wrong. Therefore, I would like to end with a quote
Challenges make you more responsible. Always remember that life without struggle is a life without success. Don’t give up and learn not to quit no matter what comes your way.
Critical Eye 