Fitzgerald, F. Scott: 1896 - 1940

The Great Gatsby, 1925 - Thematic Parallels: American Dream

Fitzgerald, F. Scott: The Great Gatsby, 1925
The central topic of the novel is the American Dream and its corruption. The novel explores how the pursuit of wealth, status, and material success can distort personal values and lead to moral decay.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Henríquez, Cristina: The Book of Unknown Americans, 2014, ~280pp
  The novel centers around immigrant families from Latin America pursuing the American Dream.
  Both novels critique how the American Dream often fails those who pursue it most earnestly, especially immigrants or outsiders. They show how social class, ethnicity, and background can keep people on the margins, no matter how hard they try to fit in. Even Gatsby, despite his wealth, is never fully accepted by the "old money" elite.
- Lee, Harper: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960, ~300pp
  The novel engages with the ethical and social motives of American society—themes of justice and opportunity are closely tied to the American Dream.
  Both novels critique the hypocrisy and corruption embedded in American society. They question whether the American Dream is truly attainable, especially for marginalized or morally upright individuals. The American ideal of justice and equality is shown to be an illusion, especially for Black Americans like Tom Robinson. But also Gatsby, the embodiment of the American Dream gone wrong, is lead by his pursuit of wealth and love to disillusionment and death.
- Miller, Arthur: Death of a Salesman, 1949, ~110pp
  The novel analyzes the cost and failings of chasing the American Dream.
  Both novels show how the American Dream can become corrupted, leading individuals to chase illusions instead of authentic fulfillment. Economic success is shown to be a poor substitute for meaningful relationships or personal integrity. The protagonists deaths highlight the tragic consequences of misplaced dreams and the refusal to accept reality.
- Steinbeck, John: Of Mice and Men, 1937, ~100pp
  The American Dream appears as the hope to own land and achieve independence, yet the novel reveals its fragility and inaccessibility for marginalized migrant workers, pointing to social obstacles and economic hardship.
  Both novels explore the failure of the American Dream and criticize the rigid social hierarchy and the illusion of upward mobility. Their characters are disillusioned by the gap between their dreams and reality.
List of general discussion questions on American Dream (pdf)
List of essay prompts on American Dream (pdf)