The Great Gatsby and the American Dream by Katherine Richardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm The American Dream will always include wanting fame and fortune because that is a constant measure of success. However, placing our focus on wealth and status causes Americans to become corrupt. en-us 2019-03-06 16:06:29 UTC 2025-06-24 16:10:03 UTC hello@padlet.com "above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg"(Fitzgerald, 23). 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463045 The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg overlook the cities.  They are symbolic of God seeing all of the corruption that greed brings to American society. If money wasn't one of our main attributes of success, Americans would be less greedy and therefore less corrupt.]]> 2019-03-06 16:23:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463045 "'Meyer Wolfsheim? No, he's a gambler.' Gatsby hesitated, then added coolly: 'He's the man who fixed the World's Series back in 1919.' 'Fixed the World's Series?' I repeated. […] 'Why isn't he in jail?' 'They can't get him, old sport. He's a smart man.'" (Fitzgerald, 118). 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463099 Because wealth is one of the markers of success in American culture, people will do anything to achieve it. This leads to the corruption of our country because one of the ways for people to become rich quickly is through crimes. Our values promote criminal activity, as seen by Gatsby complimenting a criminal for being smart. ]]> 2019-03-06 16:23:29 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463099 “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me.” (Fitzgerald, 130). 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463211 Gatsby fully acknowledges in this quote that Daisy chose not to marry him because he wasn't wealthy. This quote is an example of how highly money is valued in American society, because Gatsby can understand and accept that Daisy did not want to marry him when he was poor. ]]> 2019-03-06 16:23:39 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463211 "I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife"(Fitzgerald, 229). 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463289 When Tom realizes Daisy and Gatsby are having an affair, the most hurtful thing he can think to say is an insult towards Gatsby's social status. This is representative of how valued status is in American society.]]> 2019-03-06 16:23:45 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463289 "I called up Daisy half an hour after we found him, called her instinctively and without hesitation. But she and Tom had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them. 'Left no address?' 'No.' 'Say when they'd be back' 'No.' 'Any idea where they are? How I could reach them?' 'I don't know. Can't say.'"(Fitzgerald, 177). 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463429 Although Gatsby is the man Daisy has always loved, and he just took the fall for Myrtles death for her, Daisy still chooses Tom. This choice reflects the huge impact wealth and status has on the people in America. Daisy chooses money over a possibility of happiness with Gatsby.]]> 2019-03-06 16:23:57 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338463429 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338464986 Money is seen as the most important thing in American culture. ]]> 2019-03-06 16:26:26 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338464986 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465071 It is a dream for many of Americans to be adored and well known.]]> 2019-03-06 16:26:33 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465071 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465114 Being famous and having high status is commonly seen as success in America.]]> 2019-03-06 16:26:36 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465114 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465217 The richest people tend to group together and enjoy their luxurious lives together, like Gatsby's parties.]]> 2019-03-06 16:26:47 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465217 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465655 Having lots of attention is sometimes seen as achieving the American dream because it means you are of high social status.]]> 2019-03-06 16:27:29 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465655 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465695 Americans see having attention as succeeding.]]> 2019-03-06 16:27:33 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465695 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465738 When people have a lot of money, they tend to act carelessly as a way to prove they can afford to waste money.]]> 2019-03-06 16:27:37 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465738 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465775 Because wealth is valued, people show off their expensive possessions. ]]> 2019-03-06 16:27:41 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338465775 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338466117 Marrying rich is an easy way to become wealthy, so it's often viewed as being successful. ]]> 2019-03-06 16:28:13 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338466117 20krichardson https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338466229 In an American society that values wealth, the richest people are most likely to succeed.]]> 2019-03-06 16:28:22 UTC https://padlet.com/20krichardson/yp2zvhlow4gm/wish/338466229