Readers throughout history have been fascinated by reading about the diverse cultures that have existed over the centuries. American culture has also proven to be popular with readers and provides fertile ground for writers. One of these writers was F. Scott Fitzgerald and his novel, The Great Gatsby, explores the idealism and pitfalls of seeking the "American Dream." But what exactly is this “American Dream”? The American Dream means different things to different people. For some, this represents freedom of religion and expression. For others, it may mean the ability to provide stability for themselves and their families. But for many, it means climbing the social ladder of success. The Great Gatsby exposes 1920s society and demonstrates how a dream can be corrupted in an era of decadent social and moral values. The American Dream was originally about discovery, individualism, and the pursuit of happiness, but morphed into a materialistic view of wealth, power, and the acquisition of expensive things and the means to obtain it all. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby to represent the demise of conservative ideologies and the rise of consumerism during the Roaring Twenties. In the aftermath of World War I, America experienced a period of financial growth. It was a prosperous time, often referred to as “the Roaring Twenties.” When we think of this period, we think of flappers, speakeasies, and excess in general. World War I was a very brutal war that cost many lives and left deep scars on the men and nations who participated in it. So the period after the war was a time when people wanted to forget the pain that the war brought and drowned themselves in alcohol, parties, ...... middle of paper ...... rt , of men who advance vaguely and already crumble in the powdery air... the ash-gray men swarm with lead shovels and raise an impenetrable cloud. (Fitzgerald 23) Perhaps the best way to summarize The Great Gatsby is written by Marius Bewley. “Much of Fitzgerald's achievement lies in his effectively suggesting that these terrifying deficiencies are not so much Gatsby's private deficiencies, but are deficiencies inherent in contemporary manifestations of the American vision itself—a a vision undoubtedly admirable, but stupidly defenseless before the American government. also American world of Tom and Daisy. Gatsby's lapses in intelligence and judgment lead to his tragic death – a death that is both spiritual and physical. But the most important question we face, through our perception of the immediate tragedy, is where they have taken America. » (Bewley 11)