畢業(yè)設(shè)計(jì)(論文)-論《了不起的蓋茨比》中蓋茨比美國(guó)夢(mèng)的破滅

TheDisillusionmentoftheAmericanDreamintheGreatGatsbybyAthesispresentedtotheSchoolofEnglishStudiesofXi’anInternationalStudiesUniversityinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthedegreeofBachelorofArtsMay18,2015Class:2012-13Advisor:

西安外國(guó)語(yǔ)大學(xué)畢業(yè)論文開(kāi)題報(bào)告姓名孫少康性別男班級(jí)2012-13學(xué)號(hào)1201011322論文題目：論《了不起的蓋茨比》中蓋茨比美國(guó)夢(mèng)的破滅TheDisillusionmentoftheAmericanDreamofGatsbyintheGreatGatsby任務(wù)起止日期:2015年8月29日至2016年5月18日論文主要內(nèi)容及參考文獻(xiàn)：弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德被廣泛的認(rèn)為是美國(guó)夢(mèng)的文學(xué)代言人，他的小說(shuō)包含了這一時(shí)期他個(gè)人獨(dú)特的經(jīng)歷，對(duì)于分辨他的小說(shuō)作品和他的真實(shí)的人生經(jīng)歷是不一的，尤其是他的作品已經(jīng)注入了他精神價(jià)值觀。在他的著作中，尤其是1925年出版的了不起的蓋茨比將他的精神表達(dá)的淋漓盡致。本將研究1920年代時(shí)期美國(guó)夢(mèng)破滅的必然性從而揭開(kāi)美國(guó)夢(mèng)的本質(zhì)。Suzanne,DelGizzo.“TheAmericanDreamUnhinged:RomanceandRealityinTheGreatGatsbyandFightClub.”TheF.ScottFitzgeraldReview.6.1(2008):142+.Print.Tony,Adams.“TheGreatGatsbyasabusinessethicsinquiry.”JournalofBusinessEthics.12.8(1993):652-660.Print.Zhao,Jie.“TheDisillusionofAmericanDream—EssayOn“TheGreatGatsby.”O(jiān)verseasEnglish.21.2May.2013:243-245.Print.黃艷芳：《<了不起的蓋茨比>中美國(guó)夢(mèng)的幻滅與升華——新歷史主義解讀》，載《中南大學(xué)學(xué)報(bào)》，2010年5期。牟學(xué)麟：《了不起的蓋茨比中綠光的象征意義》，載《海外英語(yǔ)》，2011年。指導(dǎo)教師(簽名)2015

年9月2日

論蓋茨比中美國(guó)夢(mèng)的破滅摘要：弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德被廣泛的認(rèn)為是美國(guó)夢(mèng)的文學(xué)代言人，他的小說(shuō)包含了這一時(shí)期他個(gè)人獨(dú)特的經(jīng)歷，對(duì)于分辨他的小說(shuō)作品和他的真實(shí)的人生經(jīng)歷是不一的，尤其是他的作品已經(jīng)注入了他精神價(jià)值觀。在他的著作中，尤其是1925年出版的了不起的蓋茨比將他的精神表達(dá)的淋漓盡致。在這本小說(shuō)中，蓋茨比這一人物揭示了那些壯志林云想要追求美國(guó)夢(mèng)不惜犧牲自己的典范人物。盡管他幻想通過(guò)勇敢與勤勞取得物質(zhì)財(cái)富和愛(ài)情，但是所部的外部因素都不可避免的使他的美國(guó)夢(mèng)走向破滅。通過(guò)人物故事與性格的發(fā)展，菲茲杰拉德精心描繪了一幅美國(guó)夢(mèng)破滅的畫(huà)卷。關(guān)鍵詞：弗·司各特·菲茨杰拉德；美國(guó)夢(mèng)；破滅Abstract:F.ScottFitzgerald,iswidelyconsideredastheliteraryspokesmanofthe"AmericanDream".Hisnovelsincludemanyaspectsofhisuniqueexperiencesinthatperiodoftime.Itisnoteasytodistinguishhisnovelandthereallife,whichhasalreadyinvolvedhimphysicallyandmentallyinit.Especiallyinhismasterpiece,TheGreatGatsby,whichwaspublishedin1925.Inthenovel,theherorevealedatypicalexampleofthosewhowereeagertopursuetheAmericanDreambutfinallyendedbysacrificingthemselves.Thoughhedreamedofachievingmaterialwealthandlovethroughhiscourageandhardworking,allthefactorsfromoutsideworldandtheindelibilityofhisdreamledtothedisillusionmentofit.Throughthedevelopmentofthestoryandcharacteristicsofheroes,FitzgeraldelaboratedavividpictureofthedisillusionmentofAmericanDream.Keywords:F.ScottFitzgerald;AmericanDream;disillusionment

TableofContentsIntroduction……………….………11.1LiteratureReview1.2TheDefinitionandIntroductionoftheAmericanDreamintheGreatGatsbyTheAmericanSocialBackgroundandValuesin1920s32.1TheIntroductionofRoaringTimesinAmericanin1920s2.2People’sFevertoWealthandSocialStatusin1920sTheRelationshipandLoveStorybetweenGatsbyandDaisy.………………22.2Daisy’sPersonalitiesandValuesaboutLoveandWealth2.3TheTurnsandTwistsofTheirRelationshipTheRelationshipBetweenGatsbyandDaisy...…..……….……...54.1TheBriefofTheirLoveStory………………..……..……….…..54.2Daisy’sPersonalitiesandValues……...……………….….…...…….64.3TheEndingofTheirLoveAffairs9TheIronicMeaningofGatsby’sDeathandtheRevealofCapitalism’sCruelty...105.1TheInevitabilityoftheDisillusionmentofGatsby’sAmericanDream…15WorksCited………….……….……...1

Introduction1.1AbriefintroductionofF.ScottFitzgeraldandhisGreatGatsbyF.ScottFitzgerald(September24,1896-December21,1940)isanAmerican

\o"Authorofnovels"authorofnovels

and

\o"Shortstorywriter"shortstories,whoseworksaretheparadigmaticwritingsofthe

\o"JazzAge"JazzAge.Heiswidelyregardedasoneofthegreatest\o"Americanliterature"Americanwriters

ofthe20thcenturyandconsideredasamemberofthe"LostGeneration"ofthe1920s.Hefinishedfournovels:ThisSideofParadise,TheBeautifulandDamned,TheGreatGatsby(hisbestknown),andTenderIstheNight.F.ScottFitzgerald,iswidelyconsideredastheliteraryspokesmanofthe"AmericanDream".Hisnovelsincludemanyaspectsofhisuniqueexperiencesinthatperiodoftime.Itisnoteasytodistinguishhisnovelandthereallife,whichhasalreadyinvolvedhimphysicallyandmentallyinit.Especiallyinhismasterpiece,TheGreatGatsby,whichwaspublishedin1925.Inthenovel,theherorevealedatypicalexampleofthosewhowereeagertopursuetheAmericanDreambutfinallyendedbysacrificingthemselves.Thoughhedreamedofachievingmaterialwealthandlovethroughhiscourageandhardworking,allthefactorsfromoutsideworldandtheindelibilityofhisdreamledtothedisillusionmentofit.Throughthedevelopmentofthestoryandcharacteristicsofheroes,FitzgeraldelaboratedavividpictureofthedisillusionmentofAmericanDream.TheGreatGatsby,writtenin1925,isoneofthegreatestliteracydocumentsofthisperiodaswellasamasterpiecerelatedwithironyandpathostothe“AmericanDream.”Itisapictureoftheunprecedentedprosperityandmaterialexcess.Manycriticshavemadealotofstudiesonitandwrotenumerouscriticalessays.TheEnglishfamouspoetandcriticT.S.Eliotwhohasneverhadahastyandextravagantcritic,readTheGreatGatsbythreetimesandpraisedthenovelwas“thefirststepthatAmericanfictionhastakensinceHenryJames.In1983,TheGreatGatsbywastranslatedintoChinesebyProfessorWuKunning,afterthatmanyChinesescholarsbeganstudyonTheGreatGatsby,analyzingitsartisticforms,themeandsymbols.ToZhangLilong,“TheGreatGatsbyisactuallyarecallandsummaryoftheprocessofevolvementoftheAmericandreamhistoricalandrealisticperspectives.”WangYujuanarguesthat“thedreamofGatsbyisalsothedreamofallAmericans.ThedefeatofGatsbyisalsothelossofthegeneration.”Fromallresearchesbothdomesticandabroad,wecanseethatTheGreatGatsbyexploresthemesofdecadence,idealism,resistancetochange,socialupheaval,andexcess,creatingaportraitoftheJazzAgeortheRoaringTwentiesthathasbeendescribedasacautionarytaleregardingtheAmericanDream.IntroductionThisChapteraimstogiveabriefandnecessaryintroductiontoreaders,whichcontainstwoparts.ThisfirstsectionintroducesthebasicinformationabouttheauthorScottFitzgeraldandhisnovel.Thenthesecondsectionpresentsthepurposeofthispaper.ItgivethedefinitionoftheAmericandreamstoreadersthathelpthembetterunderstandthemeaningofthenovelTheGreatGatsbyandAmericandream.1.1LiteratureReviewScottFitzgeraldwasborninaSt.Paulmiddle–classfamilyin1896.Hisfatherwasgentlemanlybutunsuccessfulinbusiness.Scotthadanexpensiveeducationfirstinprivateschools,andthenatPrinceton,wherehebecamepartoftheintellectualset,theTriangleClub,whichincluded,amongothers,EdmundWilson.Hebegantowritefortheshowsoftheclub,becameeditorofauniversitymagazine,andwasdevelopingareputation.Hefeltthathewasheadingfortheupperclasslifeinwhichhewouldplayaleadingpartasawriter.ThenhehadtoleavePrinceton,probablypartlybecauseofhisacademicrecordthathadsufferedfromhisillnessandfromtooheavyanextra-curriculumscheduleandalsobecausetheFirstWorldWarthatwasgoingonofferedhimagoodexcusetostayawayforawhile.Ayear’sabsencefromtheuniversitywoundedhisprideandambitionsothatitironeditselfintohisconsciousnessasoneofthemajordisappointmentshesufferedinhisshort,unhappylife.HereturnedtoPrincetononlytostayforanotheryearinwhichhemanagedtofinishthedraftofhisfirstnovel,theSideofParadise.Thenin1922,Fitzgeraldfinishedhissecondnovel,TheBeautifulandtheDamned.TheBeautifulandtheDamnedisinterestingespeciallyasasortoffirstattemptaswritingisnotasgreat.Meanwhile,theFitzgeraldwereliving,ontheproceedsofScott’sbooksandstories,thelifeofthepeoplewhogotoGatsby’scrazyparties.In1925,hewrotehismasterpiece,TheGreatGatsbyinPairs.TheFitzgeraldhadgonetherefromYorkandmetHemingwayandGertrudeStein,amongothers.TheDefinitionandIntroductionofAmericanDreamintheGreatGatsby"TheGreatGatsby"isoneofthemostrepresentativeworksofFitzgerald.Attheendof20thCentury,theUnitedStatesacademicauthorityselectedtheonehundredbestnovelsinhundredsofyearsofhistoryofEnglishLiterature,"TheGreatGatsby"enjoyedpopularconfidence,toppingthesecond,andwereproudlyamongthecontemporaryandclassicranks.Thenovelisuseofimpressionisticdescription,itsstyleisofbothwarmandcool,andithasplayedanindispensableroleinthehistoryofliteratureoftheworldforthestatusofFitzgerald.ThisnovelisnarratedbyNick,ayoungbachelorwhoreturnstotheMidwestbeforesettingtotheNewYorkCity.Daisy,theheroine,isNick’ssecondcousinandNickknowsofherhusband,Tom.Withthedevelopmentofthenovel,Nickknowsthathisnext-doorneighboristhewealthyGatsby，whoalwayshostinglavishpartiesofhundredsofpeoples,JordanBakertakesinterestsinNick,andherevealsthatIn1917GatsbyasArmyLieutenantstationednearDaisy’shometownandthenhadfalleninlovewithDaisy.ButGatsbyhadnomoneytomarryDaisy,soDaisywasmarriedtothewealthyTom,afterthatGatsbyisaimingtobeamillionaire.Withfewyearsofsmuggling,Gatsbyaccumulatesagreatamountofwealth.HewouldlikeNicktoarrangeameetingwithDaisy,andNickagreestoinviteGatsbyandDaisytohishouse,sotheybeginaloveaffairagain.Butactually,Daisyonlytreatsthisrelationshipasanexcitinggame.DaisyinvitesGatsbyandNicktohermansionandTomfindsthatGatsbylovesDaisy.TomknowsDaisy’snatureverywell.AndbytakingawayDaisy’sfinancialsecurity,TomthinksthatDaisyisnowbeyondhisreach.Becauseofthesituationbetweenthem,DaisyrunsoutofthehotelandGatsbyfollowsherintohiscar.Daisyinsistsondrivingbecauseitwillcalmhermoods.ButinthelaterDaisyknocksdownandkillsMyrtle,Tom’smistress.GatsbyabsolveDaisyfromherguiltytoprotecther.AfterthatTomtalksintoMyrtle’shusbandtoshootGatsbydead.Sothemagicbubbleofloveanddreamsbrokeup.DespiteNick’sefforts,onlyGatsby’sfather,awomanandNickattendhisfuneral.DiscussingwithTomandDaisy,Nickreturnstohishometown,reflectingonGatsby’sdreamsandcyclicalnatureofthepast.Theterm,"Americandream"wasfirstusedbyJamesTruslowAdamsinhisbook"TheEpicofAmerican"whichwaswrittenin1931.TheAmericanDreamisadreamthathadlandwhereeveryonecouldliveabetterandricherandfullerlife.What’smore,everyonehadopportunitytomatchabilitywithachievement.ItisadifficultdreamfortheEuropeanupperclassestointerpretadequately,andtoomanyofushavegrownwearilyandmistrustedit.Itisnotmerelyadreamofmotorcarsorhighwages,butadreamofsocialorderinwhicheachmanandeachwomanshallbeabletoattainthefulleststatureandberecognizedbyothersforwhotheyare,regardlessoftheconditionorpositionofbirth."Theso-calledAmericanDreamisakindofbeliefthataslongaspeoplewentthroughahardstruggleintheUnitedStates,theywillbeabletoachieveabetterideallife.Thatis,peoplemustworkdiligently,courageously,creatively,andhavedeterminationtosuccess,ratherthanrelyonaparticularsocialclassandtheassistanceofothers.Thisusuallyshowedtheeconomicsuccessofpeopleorentrepreneur’sspirit.ManyEuropeanimmigrantswhichhavingtheidealofAmericandreammovedtowardstheUnitedStates.DespitesomecriticizedtheAmericandreamexcessivelyemphasizedontheroleofmaterialwealthplayedinthemeasureofvictoryandhappiness.ButmanyAmericansreallybelievedthatsuchanopportunitytogetsuccesscannotbefoundintheworld.Asdifferentfromthemostothercountries,theUnitedStateshadconsiderableeconomicfreedom;theroleofgovernmentislimited,makingtheU.S.hasagreatsocialmobility.Anypersonmaygotowardsthetopthroughtheirownefforts.FromIndependenceoftheUnitedStatestotheendofthe19thcentury,largeareasoflandwereuninhabitedandunoccupiedbypeople.Anyonecouldoccupy,investandreclaimtolands.BythetimeoftheIndustrialRevolution,thehugenaturalresourcesofUnitedStatesandadvancedindustrialtechnologymaderapidsocialmobilitypossible,andthistrendisstillincreasingdaybyday.Accordingtothehistorians,theythinkthatthereasonwhytheeconomyoftheUnitedStatesrapidlydevelopsandindustryexpandisnotjustbecausetheUnitedStateshasrichnaturalresources,butalsobecauseeveryonehastheopportunitytogetwealththroughtheirownstruggle.In1920s,theAmericansocietyenjoyedeconomicprosperityaftertheWorldWarI.Suchasautomobiles,movingpicturesandradio,thesenewinventionsanddiscoveriesweremadesignificantchangestolifestyleandculture.Unprecedentedindustrialgrowthandacceleratedconsumerdemandmadetheeraknownas“theRoaringTwenties”.TheAmericanDreamatthattimehasgraduallychangedintomoney-making.TheAmericanSocialBackgroundandValuesin1920sTheIntroductionofRoaringTimesinAmericanin1920sIn1920s,theAmericansocietyenjoyedeconomicprosperityaftertheWorldWarI.Suchasautomobiles,movingpicturesandradio,thesenewinventionsanddiscoveriesweremadesignificantchangestolifestyleandculture.Unprecedentedindustrialgrowthandacceleratedconsumerdemandmadetheeraknownas“theRoaringTwenties”.TheAmericanDreamatthattimehasgraduallychangedintomoney-making.TheRoaringTwentiesisanageofexplosionfsocialwealthandbillionaire,butalsoisanageofspiritualpoverty.Younggenerationssufferedfromthetraumaofbodyandspirit;becauseofwartheyloseconfidencetofuture.Theurbansocietyisfullofdepravityandcorruption,consumerismandmaterialismbecomethemajorthemeoftheAmericanDream.PeoplelikeGatsbyusedallmeanstomakemoneydespiteofmoralandlegalstandards.Fromallthatmentionedabove,thedefinitionofthe"AmericanDream"haschangedoverthedevelopmentofhistory.ButitstillactsasacorevalueinAmericaandinfluencespeoplefromgenerationtogeneration.People’sFevertoWealthandSocialStatusin1920sThesocalled“economicbasedeterminesthesuperstructure”,withthecompletionoftheprocessofAmericanindustrializationandurbanization,theoriginalvaluesandtherulesoflifemustbechanged.OneimportantreasonoftheAmericanDreamdisillusionedisthatnomatterhownobletheperson'sdreamatthistimeis,howcharacteristicoftheAmericandreamis,ithasnotmetthetrendofthetimes.Inotherwords,thedisciplineofFranklinandCarnegiehaslookedpaleandweakundertheimpactofthemodernizationtide,hasnolongeradaptedtothechangingsocialthoughts.Thecorruptionofdreamalsoledtodisillusionoftheso-called"Americandream".Theconceptofindividualentrepreneurialspiritandthepursuitofhappinesshavecorruptedintounscrupulouspursuitofmoney.Inashortnut,TheGreatGatsbyexposesthatinthematerialismsociety,inanycase,Gatsbywouldhavefailedtohisidealisticdreaminevitable,namelydisillusionofAmericandream.Italsoindicatesthatthematerialismwaymayleadtototaldepravity,whichisstillofimportancetotoday’snewworld,leavingpeopletothinkabout.It'saspecialerainthehistoryoftheUnitedStateswhentheWorldWarIended;theGreatDepressionwasnotyettocome.Duringpre-waroftheworldwarⅠ,theUnitedStatesprofiteered.Inthepost-war,itwonapreciousopportunityofdevelopingeconomy.Duetothecrueltyofthewar,manypeoplehaddoubtableattitudetowardsthetraditionalvalues,suchashonor,democracy,freedomandlostfaith,thusindulginginpleasure.Inaddition,traditionalPuritanethicsdisintegrated,andhedonismbegantoflourish.TheeconomyoftheU.SexperiencedarapiddevelopmentofthepostwaranddramaticchangethatthecrashofNewYorkstockmarketbrought,sotheeconomyofU.Shasexperiencedrecessionforyears.Affluentandeasylifeinthepost-warmadepeopledizzyinthebustle.Whileatthistime,Americanintellectualshadfled,andspenthislonelyyouthinpainandconfusion.What'smore,itwasachangeableandrebelliouserawhentheyoungergenerationfinallychosetobreakwithtradition.InFitzgerald'swords,"Thatisamiraculouseraandanerafullofmockery."Fitzgeraldcalledthiserathe"JazzAge".Atthattime,withtheintroductionofradioandtheendofthewar,jazzanddanceemerged.Jazzbecameanentirelynewculturalmovementinplaces,suchastheUnitedStates,EnglandandFrance.Cities,suchasNewYorkandChicago,wereculturalcentersofjazz.Inurbanareas,AfricanAmericanjazzwasplayedontheradiomoreoftenthaninthesuburbs.Theyouthof1920s,influencedbyjazz,rebelledagainstthetraditionalcultureofpreviousgenerations.TheIntroductionandAnalysisofPersonalGrowthofGatsbyTheRelationshipandLoveStorybetweenGatsbyandDaisy.2.1TheIntroductionGatsby"TheGreatGatsby"isoneofthemostrepresentativeworksofFitzgerald.Attheendof20thCentury,theUnitedStatesacademicauthorityselectedtheonehundredbestnovelsinhundredsofyearsofhistoryofEnglishLiterature,"TheGreatGatsby"enjoyedpopularconfidence,toppingthesecond,andwereproudlyamongthecontemporaryandclassicranks.Thenovelisuseofimpressionisticdescription,itsstyleisofbothwarmandcool,andithasplayedanindispensableroleinthehistoryofliteratureoftheworldforthestatusofFitzgerald.ThisnovelisnarratedbyNick,ayoungbachelorwhoreturnstotheMidwestbeforesettingtotheNewYorkCity.Daisy,theheroine,isNick’ssecondcousinandNickknowsofherhusband,Tom.Withthedevelopmentofthenovel,Nickknowsthathisnext-doorneighboristhewealthyGatsby，whoalwayshostinglavishpartiesofhundredsofpeoples,JordanBakertakesinterestsinNick,andherevealsthatIn1917GatsbyasArmyLieutenantstationednearDaisy’shometownandthenhadfalleninlovewithDaisy.ButGatsbyhadnomoneytomarryDaisy,soDaisywas2marriedtothewealthyTom,afterthatGatsbyisaimingtobeamillionaire.Withfewyearsofsmuggling,Gatsbyaccumulatesagreatamountofwealth.HewouldlikeNicktoarrangeameetingwithDaisy,andNickagreestoinviteGatsbyandDaisytohishouse,sotheybeginaloveaffairagain.Butactually,Daisyonlytreatsthisrelationshipasanexcitinggame.DaisyinvitesGatsbyandNicktohermansionandTomfindsthatGatsbylovesDaisy.TomknowsDaisy’snatureverywell.AndbytakingawayDaisy’sfinancialsecurity,TomthinksthatDaisyisnowbeyondhisreach.Becauseofthesituationbetweenthem,DaisyrunsoutofthehotelandGatsbyfollowsherintohiscar.Daisyinsistsondrivingbecauseitwillcalmhermoods.ButinthelaterDaisyknocksdownandkillsMyrtle,Tom’smistress.GatsbyabsolveDaisyfromherguiltytoprotecther.AfterthatTomtalksintoMyrtle’shusbandtoshootGatsbydead.Sothemagicbubbleofloveanddreamsbrokeup.DespiteNick’sefforts,onlyGatsby’sfather,awomanandNickattendhisfuneral.DiscussingwithTomandDaisy,Nickreturnstohishometown,reflectingonGatsby’sdreamsandcyclicalnatureofthepast2.2Daisy’sPersonalitiesandValuesaboutLoveandWealthDaisyBuchanan,leadingladyofthenovelTheGreatGatsby,whoisthesymbolofbeautyandwealthrepresentsthemostgorgeousthinginGatsby’sminds.Shewasbornandraisedinupperclass,whichmadeherexposedtotheworldthatisdominatedbythemammonistandmaterialism.Thenovelstartedwiththefollowingsentences:“Thenwearthegoldenhat,ifthatwillmoveher;Ifyoucanbouncehigh,bounceforhertoo;Tillshecried:Lover,goldenhatted,highbouncinglover,Imusthaveyou!”AndtheauthorFitzgerald’sattitudetowardbeautyoftentimesseemsmoralistic;corruptiondwellswithbeauty,evilhidesitselfthere.Theequationofbeautywithsinappearsinmanystories.SoitisinevitablethatDaisybecametheembodimentofangelsanddemons.Daisyhasmorepassionforwealththanlove,inordertoprotectherself,shecaneasilychangeherfeelingsandloveaboutGatsby.Selfishnessandruthlessnessarethethemesofheressence,whichcanfreeherfromthedistractionanddutyofherfeelingaboutGatsby.Fitzgerald’saccuratedescriptionofDaisy’scharactersfurtherrevealsthethemesofhiswork.IntheGreatGatsby,ManyyoungmenhavepassionforDaisy’sappearancejustthesameastheirpassionforAmericanDream.AlthoughDaisy’sbeautyalsomakesAmericanDreammoreattractiveandalluring,hercrueltyandruthlessnessalsoindicatesthatAmericanDreamisnothingbutvanity.4.3TheEndingofTheirLoveAffairsTheIronicMeaningofGatsby’sDeathandtheRevealofCapitalism’sCrueltyThe“AmericanDream"ofGatsbyalsoshowsinhis"wealthdream".TeformernameofGatsbyknownas“JayGats",hisparentswerecropspersonofmediocrity,hewaseagertogetridofpoverty,andrankedamongtheupperclassofsociety.Attheageof17yearsold,GatsmetamanwhonamedDanCody,andgotfortunebytheillegalbehaviors.LittleGatsadmiredhimverymuch,andthenhechangedhisnameintoGatsbyandfollowedCody.Gatsbytooktheidealfocusedontheacquiringofwealth.BecausewhenDanCodywassober,heknewifhewasdrunk,hewoulddomanystupidthings,likeprofligacy.SohegrewtotrustGatsbyinordertopreventthiskindofaccidentsfromhappening.AfterDanCodydied,GatsbyusedhisheritagewhichwasgainedfromDanCodytoillegalsaleprivatewine,andamassedalargeoffortune.ButforGatsbynomatterhowrich,hestilltriedtoblendintheuppercircleswhichhehaslongwanted,justbecauseofhishumblebirth.Finally,hehasbecometheirexcellentmaterialofsuspicionandrumorsfortheupperclassoftheso-calledcelebrities.Asconstantlysuspicionofpeople,hisillegalbusinesseswereeventuallyexposedbyTom.Heworkedhardtocreatematerialwealth,anditdidnothelphimachievepursuit,hisdreamofwealthwasshattered.AfterGatsbywasdied,theformerguestsdidnotshowupinhisfuneralwhichNickheldforhim,bleakanddesolateinthefuneralandhustleandbustleoftheformerpartywereclearlyconstitutedasharpcontrast,itshowedthathedidnotgettherecognitionoftheupperclass.Althoughduringthattimefreedomandequalityhavebeenadvocated,thesocialhierarchywasstillexists.JayGatsbymadealleffortstosqueezeintothe-upperclass,andhebecametobeadmiredandrespectedbyotherpeople.Hewantseverythingthatamanofnoblebirthhas:alargeamountofmoney,asplendidmansionandasatisfactorymarriage.Afterheobtainsthesethings,hegainsmoneyatallcosts,hehostspartyfrequentlyinhismansiontoshowhisriches,andhepursuesDaisyasaqualifiedwifeforadecentman.ThedescriptioninChapterthreegivesusavividpictureabouttheextravaganceofGatsby’slife:Therewasmusicfrommyneighbor’shousethroughthesummernights.Inhisbluegardensmenandgirlscameandwentlikemothsamongthewhisperingandchampagneandthestars.(F.ScottFitzgerald,1993.26)Besidesshowingoffhiswealth,heevenchangedhisnametocoveruphishumblebirth.WhenNickaskedabouthislife,heliedthathewasbeingraisedinadecentMiddleWestfamilyandgraduatedfromOxford.Allthesefactsshowthathedesirestobeamemberoftheupperclassofsociety.Gatsbysimplybelievedthattheywillregardhimashonorablepeopleaslongasotherpeoplegettoknowhiswealth.Butthefactwasthatnomatterhowhewasrichandhestillcannotbeacceptedbyupperclass.AtGatsby’sparty,peoplearetalkedabouthisidentityandthesourceofhismoney;someoneassumedthathehadkilledamanwhilesomeonethoughthewasaGermanspy.AdrunkenmancouldnotbelievethatthosebooksonthebookshelvesinGatsby’slibrarywerereal.AllofrelationshipsbetweenpeopleandGatsbywerebasedonbenefit,whenGatsbydiestheyjustbreaklikesoapbubbles.AndthatisthereasonwhynofriendsattendedGatsby’sfuneralintheendofthenovel.ThedeathofGatsbyisalsothedisillusionofhisAmericanDream.TheInevitabilityoftheDisillusionmentofGatsby’sAmericanDreamSincetheAmericanDreamcameintobeing,ithasalwaysbeenthepursuitforAmericannations.Thisdreamitselfsupposestobedynamicandvital,butGatsby’sstoriestoldusthatitisnot.Ifakindofdreamonlyyarnsforthewealthandstatus,lacking,thiskindofdreamisnothingbutvanityandshorteye-sightedwithouttheextensionductilityofdreams.Whenwealthandstatusmeanseverything,theAmericandreamisnotwhatitsupposestobe.Nosocietythatsolelydependsonhighlevelmateriallifecanmakepeoplefulfilltheirdreamsforalongtime.Humanbeingshaveaurgentneedfortheirspiritsandminds,andonlythespirituallifehavemuchpotentialforultimatedevelopment.Thisisafundamentalissueconcerningtheexistenceforhumans.Allkindsofdreamsthatonlyfocusonthematerialaredoomedtovanishintoair.TakingGatsbyasanexample,hetriedhisbesttointegrateintotheupperclass,butthetruthisthathecanneverbecomeoneofthem.EverythingthatGatsbyachievedisbasedonhisimitation,whichiscausedbyhisownself-abasement.Thiskindofself-abasementshowsupwhenhemadeuphispastandlifeexperience,forci