The American Dream: an American social ideal that emphasizes egalitarianism and above all material prosperity; also: prosperity or the life that is the realization of this ideal. (Webster's Dictionary) For many generations, people have sought fulfillment through the idea of ​​the American Dream. People who strive to achieve: wealth, happiness, social status and who want to change their lives have chased this idea. Those who strive to achieve greatness in the American Dream seek to climb the social ladder and out of poverty to make something for themselves. Although the American dream promises change for the better, it often fails to achieve success and sometimes leads to the downfall of its victims. Lavish parties, big houses, and a multitude of riches are all things associated with the idea of ​​the American dream. Dream, as shown by Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. His journey from rags to riches embodies the goal of the American dream. Gatsby, born into a lower class family, grew up with little to nothing, so he decided to do something for himself. In his adolescence, Gatsby surrounded himself with members of a high social class and realized that he could reach their standards. Jay gets the chance of a lifetime by joining Dan Cody on his yacht as an apprentice to learn how to behave like a true gentleman. (pg. 99) This helped him become one of the richest men on Long Island. By owning shops and smuggling illegally, he created his empire. He was given the rare opportunity to change his life, similar to Walter in A Raisin In the Sun. In a conversation on NPR, Jeb Bush's comment: "There are people who are born poor, and there's always a chance higher... middle of paper... sometimes the downfall of those around them. Works Cited A Rasin in the Sun. Dir. Kenny Leon Perf. Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, Sanaa Lathan and John Stamos ., 2008. DVD."American Dream." Merriam-Webster and Web. 3 May 2014. .Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby .Geoghegan, Tom. “The Great Gatsby: What It Says to Modern America.” BBC News, 9 August 2011. Web. 4 May 2014. .Neary, Lynn, Marilyn Geewax, Erin Currier, Jeb Bush and Mika Brzezinski. "Social Mobility: Is the American Dream Slipping Away?" social-mobility-is-the-american-dream-slipping-away.