Corruption is America

F. Scott Fitzgerald exposes the cold reality of America in his book, “The Great Gatsby”. We see fraudulent actions in sacrifice for a rose-colored lifestyle occur from then main characters such as Nick, Daisy, Tom, and even the partygoers at the events. However, no character encompasses the American Dream better than Jay Gatsby himself. His morals are slowly tainted black in his pursuit of sheer excellence. The grandeur that he wishes to represent is revealed to be built upon the history of vices layered to reach the top. Since the US values the image of success, corruption continues to occur.     

The journey that Gatsby’s takes can be connected to the poem entitled, “The American Dream” by Langston Hughes. In this poem, Hughes reveals that the grandeur of the American Dream is nothing but a glittery facade. Behind the curtain of delusion, Langston points out that hard work and determination can only get you so far. However, the ones on top maintain their position by conniving and scheming, ultimately staining their own morals by putting others down. Both works by Fitzgerald and Hughes support the idea that since America values success, immoral and easy ways to achieve this success still occur. In the book, Nick doesn’t meet Gatsby in a straightforward manner. Instead, Nick first has to navigate through Gatsby’s house during the night of the party. This vivid imagery of wealth, success, and fame is not only found in the architecture of the house but also by the guests who attend. As the fireworks go off, Nick finally meets Gatsby. However, because the suspense and anticipation has been built by the lavishness, Nick’s expectations of Gatsby are high. He associates Gatsby to be successful, to be well-known, and it is because of the enchantment that Gatsby has created around his life. 

However, this grandeur is revealed to be achieved not through honest hard work and resilience, but through cheating. During the fight at the Plaza hotel, Tom reveals how Gatsby really worked his way to the top. Tom states Gatsby bought drug stores with his partner Wolfsheim and “sold grain alcohol over the counter”. Tom also goes on and says “that drug store business is just a small change” (Fitzgerald, pg.133). At the time of the 20s, alcohol was illegal and yet Gatsby made his fortune by selling illegal alcohol. What’s worse is that Tom hints that this is small in comparison to the other things that Gatsby has done. This passage relates to the line in “The American Dream” poem by Hughes, “I am the young man, full of strength and hope/of profit, power, gain/Of grab the gold! Of grab the ways of satisfying need!/ Of work the men! Of take the pay!/ Of owning everything for one’s own greed!” This states that a young man is eager to have the American Dream, but will do so by grabbing the ways of “satisfying needs”, taking the work of other “men”, and “owning everything for one’s greed” (Hughes). This poem illuminates that Gatsby isn't doing noble work, he is committing fraud and illegal behavior in order to get to the top. In order to paint the American Dream’s image of success, Gatsby must do immoral work. Through Nick’s perceptions, it had appeared that Gatsby had already reached the top and was at the same level of rich as his neighbors across the lake -- Tom and Daisy. This too, however, is also an illusion. In the same fight at the Plaza hotel, Tom says highlights the difference between him and Gatsby, “ I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife… I know I’m not very popular. I don’t give big parties. I suppose you’ve got to make your house into a pigsty in order to have any friends-- in the modern world” (Fitzgerald, 130). With Tom saying this, he is pointing out that he has self-respect and real wealth. Tom was born into money, and finds no need to flaunt it in order for other people to know where his position stands. By making this statement, Tom claims that because Gatsby is new money and not secure with his position, he must constantly remind others of his wealth. This relates back to Hughes’ American Dream line saying: “Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed/that any man be crushed by one above” (Hughes). This supports that despite Gatsby conjuring the American Dream, Tom still sits above him. While Gatsby achieved his life-long goal, he still is subject to those who were born into money and who have also practiced immoral ways to uphold their wealth. 

America has pushed many of those to obtain the impossible driving the seekers mad with greed and desire. The dream that america leads is only an illusion for the invitation of corruption, where dog eats dog and sanity is driven low. In the way that the characters lose themselves to become excellent in the eyes of America and it’s people, America’s value for success destroys people.