Compare The Great Gatsby And A Raisin In The Sun - 1392 Words

The definition of the American dream has evolved into different interpretations over time. However, one common aspect that all Americans strive for is to be respected by society. To be respected by society implies that a person is appreciated, known for his or her accomplishments and individuality. In the The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, the idea of the American Dream is portrayed evidently. The American Dream is the ideal that every US citizen has an equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work and gain respect from society for those achievements. Jay Gatsby desires respect from wealthy socialites for his achievements in attaining wealth while Walter Lee Younger despairingly†¦show more content†¦For instance, Gatsby lies about his education and birthplace to deceive people into thinking that he has always been a wealthy socialite from the start. Gatsby’s own account of his prominent past is mysteriously exaggerated. His spontaneous response to give proof to justify his story is itself very mysterious. Moreover, an honest person would not have to further explain the reason for his education at Oxford, but Gatsby does which shows that Gatsby is not honest about who he truly is. Gatsby believes that exaggerating and lying will help him gain acceptance and respect from the East Egg society. Furthermore, for people of the West Egg to live or be able to fit into East Egg, it is an unfulfilled dream because the focus is not on how much money one has, but rather on how and when the money was acquired. Gatsby’s chances of being accepted are crushed when his identity and background are revealed and he is seen as a liar by Tom Buchanan. The doubts on Gatsby’s income and wealth unveil his secrets: â€Å"He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong† (Fitzgerald 134). Tom insults Gatsby on how his money was acquired, accusing Gatsby of having â€Å"side-street drug-stores† showing how the importance of wealth is not the only aspect to be considered when a personShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby And Harlem By Langston Hughes1089 Words   |  5 Pagesframe. Some examples of these works include The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and â€Å"Harlem† by Langston Hughes. Both of these pieces of literature include literary elements to appeal to the reader’s senses and imagination. A prevalent theme that has been found in works of the roaring 20’s is the wealth that someone may or may not achieve. Literary elements such as figurative language, irony, and symbolism are profound in both The Great Gatsby and â€Å"Harlem†, adding depth to both literature worksRead MoreLiterary Analysis : A Raisin Of The Sun 1480 Words   |  6 Pagesway to mend issues. When it is taken into account the hardships people have had to live through because of money and its value, it is easy to assume that a possession of that wealth would solve the issues faced. In Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, money is seen as the way out of the tunnel the Younger family has been stuck in for so long. The arrival of a ten thousand dollar life insurance check spins the family upside down as they try to figure out how to use the money to better themselves