I’m Ryan Gellis and today I will be presenting my haiku deck on The Great Gatsby.

The essential question I have created is “Why is the American Dream not outdated?”

The American Dream is the idea that anyone can achieve freedom and success in America. This dream has existed for many years now, since the Founding Fathers set the foundation for our country. However, much time has passed since the creation of the American Dream, so has it changed since then? Today I will find the answer by using the research I have gathered so far. Many different facets play a role in answering this question, and we will be looking at three major ones.

This essential question contains historical significance to real life. The idea of the American Dream has existed as long as America has. It was meant to give people a reason to come to America: for their own rights and freedom to live as they pleased. According to Americans who were fighting in the war were fighting to maintain their four “essential freedoms”: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear (Time 2). People were influenced by the American Dream’s promise of unconditional freedom, so they fought to protect these freedoms.

Furthermore, this potential better life and opportunities attracted many from other countries to America. “This promise of a better life attracted people from all over the world to the United States. They came to America ready to work hard” (Time 1). The American Dream gave people inspiration to move to America with its promise of success and freedom to be whatever you wanted. Some people are still influenced by the need for a life of freedom and continue to come to the United States just for this opportunity.

Second, this essential question relates to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Taking place in the early 1920s, this novel takes heavy influence from the American Dream with its many themes of wealth, success, and freedom. The main character, Jay Gatsby, moves to Long Island in order to learn the bond business and become a successful business man (Fitzgerald 5). Looking for success, Gatsby searches for opportunity in the concrete jungle of New York and makes enough money to purchase real estate in wealthy and successful West Egg.

However, Fitzgerald also shows the negative side to the American Dream: it can take over people who let it get to their heads. Daisy, Gatsby’s love interest, has let the goal of gaining money and spending it recklessly get to her head. She became obsessed with gaining money and allowed it to control her and her personality; “Her voice [was] full of money” (Fitzgerald 128). Taking the goal of success and freedom to an extreme, Daisy focused her entire being on gaining wealth and acting recklessly. Daisy turned the American Dream into a twisted and selfish version of itself.

Finally, the essential question impacts us in our day to day lives. The American Dream, though it is evolving, is not completely outdated. According to Rosemarie P. in Is the American Dream Still Achievable?, when people were surveyed on their thoughts about what the American Dream is, less people were saying it was about becoming wealthy, and more were about achieving personal freedom and a happy life (Rosemarie 4). Though wealth is becoming less important to people nowadays, they still look for the opportunity for freedom and happiness in America.

Adding on, the article states, that more and more individuals claim that they have achieved or are on their way to achieve the American Dream (Rosemarie 5). With new opportunities and an improved economy, people are becoming gradually more optimistic and successful, no matter their previous circumstances. As time passes, people and cultures develop and evolve. The American Dream is constantly changing in minor ways, but the core belief of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness will never change.

The American Dream can be found in many instances of life and media. For as long as our country has existed people have fought for their rights and freedoms as citizens in America. Immigrants come to the U.S. to gain freedom and seek opportunity in a welcoming country. Additionally, the American Dream is seen in the pages of The Great Gatsby, in which Mr. Gatsby moves to the state of New York to achieve financial success and make himself a better life. Daisy, however, takes the Dream negatively and lets the goal and wealth take over her life and character. Finally, the American Dream continues to impact us today, inspiring Americans to follow their dreams and achieve their own happiness. Though the dream is constantly evolving, it still gives individuals the drive to achieve success, happiness, and opportunity in a free environment.

The American Dream is seen in many facets of life and gives meaning to coming to America. Our country is one of opporunity, change, and freedom. The American Dream isn’t outdated, but has only grown better and more achievable as time goes on.