The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1175 Words

In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald delves into the psychological impact of one’s environment. The characters in The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, and Daisy Buchanan, are all affected by their surroundings. This exemplifies how the American lifestyle, as well as the American dream, is detrimental to a person’s character. The American dream often embodies the hope of a new life filled with opportunities and happiness. Jay Gatsby was one of those light-hearted fools who believed he could have it all: fortune, fame, and love. Gatsby came from humble beginnings; he grew up in the Midwest of America, poor and resentful toward his family because of it. His eventually developed an acute thirst for wealth; this†¦show more content†¦It is revealed later in the novel that Gatsby used illegal means to gain his wealth in a faulty attempt to impress Daisy. He tries to justify those actions: â€Å"He began to talk excitedly to Daisy, den ying everything, defending his name against accusations that had not been made† (142). Here, Fitzgerald demonstrates the moral decay of Gatsby; as Gatsby committed illegal activities to achieve massive amounts of wealth and adultery with Daisy, he did not feel guilty. Now that his plan to win her heart is falling apart, he regrets his actions and tries to convince her the claims against him are false. His pursuing of the American dream led to his downfall; his status, wealth, and even his love, Daisy, all leave him. For Gatsby, the American dream stayed as it was, a dream, an unachievable pursuit of happiness. Masculinity is often connected with great fortitude and strength; in the case of Tom Buchanan, it seems true. In The Great Gatsby, Tom is characterized is a rich, snobby, and overall very pretentious man. Born into wealth, Tom was able to maintain power through both his wealth and status. Without serious boundaries he was able to do as he pleased, which eventually made him into an aggressive and morally corrupt man. Tom Buchanan is an autocrat who uses brute force to get his way; when he loses his control, he feels weakened: â€Å"He had discovered that Myrtle had some sort of life