The concept of one's journey to achieve the so-called "American Dream" has been the central theme of many novels. However, in the novel The Great Gatsby, the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays the American dream as so opulent that it is unrealistic and unattainable. The American Dream was originally about achieving happiness, but in the 1920s this dream transformed into a desire for fame and fortune by any means; he is wrong that wealth brings happiness. Fitzgerald illustrates that the closer people get to the idealistic American dream, the more they lose sight of what makes them happy, which sends the message that the American dream is unattainable. The continued desire for extravagance and wealthy lifestyles has become detrimental to Gatsby and many other characters in the novel as they continue to remain incorrigible in an era of decayed social and moral values, pursuing an empty life of pleasure instead of seeking happiness. GATSBY'S DREAM“ Gatsby believed in the green light, in the orgastic future that year after year recedes before us. It escaped us then, but it doesn't matter: tomorrow we will run faster, we will stretch our arms more. And then one beautiful morning... So we continued rowing, boats against the current, pushed back incessantly into the past. (180). Located at the end of Daisy's East Egg Pier and just visible from Gatsby's West Egg lawn, the green light represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby associates it with Daisy, and in chapter 1 he reaches out to it in the darkness as a guiding light to lead him to his goal. Fitzgerald illustrates Daisy as a symbol of wealth, success, dreams, beauty, marriage, motherhood and ultimately encompasses the idealistic American dream. However, t... middle of paper... is obvious when Nick and Gatsby try to discern the charm in Daisy's voice. Gatsby says, “His voice is full of money,” and Nicks reaches a revelation about society: “It was like that. I never understood it before. It was full of money: that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it. , its tinkling, its singing of cymbals... High in a white palace the golden girl...." (120). With this realization Nick finally sees that when Daisy's charm and beauty are stripped away, only an ugly, selfish personality remains. He's so caught up in the drama and partying around him that he loses sight of the original reason he moved east, which is ultimately one of the reasons why the American dream is no longer a realistic goal for Nick.Works CitedFitzgerald, F. Scott. Three novels: The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1953. Print.