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The American dream could date back to the period of the first batch of European colonizer. The origin of it came from the puritanic religions idea. In early American colonialism, success meant working very hard. Many people were millionaires and started from scratch. Benjamin Franklin is the successful representative of the American dream and the best annotation. The American dream makes people believe that all the people are equally valuable in this island, which is full of vitality and hope. If you make arduous efforts, you will obtain wealth, and harvest happiness. The American dream focuses on equality of everyone and the same chances of success. Success mainly depends on how hard you work, in traditional American dream, freedom of faith is important.源'自:优尔-'论/文'网"www.youerw.com
The national culture is changing and developing in the tide of history. The American dream will be given the different meaning in the different era. The development of the American dream reflects public's hopes for a better life. In new century, the connotation of the American dream meets the requirement of the new society in a new era. In 21 century, the era of information globalization has already come. Apple founder Steve Jobs and the American President Barack Hussein become the spokesmen of the American dream in the new century. Both of them use efforts and intelligence to make the dream come true. So the connotation of the American dream in the new century is making hard effort, and applying wisdom, confidence, courage and advanced knowledge to make the dream come true.
3.2 The Embodiment of the American Dream in the Novel
Gatsby is a product of American society and culture, Through the description of the Gatsby’s whole life, we can clearly make an understanding of Gatsby's life, which is the best embodiment of American dream, Gatsby’s American dream is originated from childhood, he was born in a normal family, but he was studious and hoped that through their own efforts to achieve their own dream, and to be a great man like Benjamin. However, because of the degenerative social situation, Gatsby could not realize his American dream same with Benjamin Franklin. Daisy is the key point to make Gatsby elect the anomic American dream. Daisy was so beautiful and enchanting, Gatsby fell in love with Daisy, in order to redeem Daisy’s love, under the impetus of the social conditions, and Gatsby used much money to win Daisy. Because he thought that if he had enough money, even more than Daisy’s husband Tom, he will win Daisy’s love. So it is reasonable for him to accumulate material wealth to gain the love of Daisy. Even though Gatsby made the fortune through illegal business, and did everything for Daisy, such as moving to West Egg, and making money by any means necessary, holding extravagant parties during all the summer. His dream was still burst at last, however, Gatsby never gave up his original intention of dream, and Gatsby’s dream is an embodiment of the American dream in the novel, development, disillusionment and rebirth.
“Involuntarily I glanced seaward-and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” (Fitzgerald, 2009: 20) This is the first “green light” in the novel. It is the symbol of the American dream to Gatsby, and he yearned to gain the love from Daisy.