Abibillaev Abdilaziz

24.05.2024

The Illusion of Happiness in “The Great Gatsby”

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel "The Great Gatsby," the pursuit of happiness is a

central theme that drives the characters and their actions. However, what becomes evident is

that the happiness they seek is often an illusion, a mirage that leads to disillusionment and

tragedy. In this essay, I intend to explore how Fitzgerald portrays the illusion of happiness

through the characters' pursuit of wealth, status, and romantic ideals. By examining the lives

of Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan, I will illustrate how their superficial

aspirations ultimately lead to emptiness and despair. My thesis is that "The Great Gatsby"

demonstrates that the pursuit of material wealth and social status as a means to happiness is

inherently flawed and leads to inevitable disappointment.

In "The Great Gatsby," Jay Gatsby epitomizes the illusion of happiness through his

relentless pursuit of the American Dream. Gatsby’s wealth, amassed through dubious means,

is a facade designed to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby believes that by

achieving financial success and hosting extravagant parties, he can recreate the past and

rekindle his romance with Daisy. However, Gatsby's mansion, filled with opulence and

glamour, is ultimately hollow. His parties, attended by countless strangers, do not bring him

genuine joy but are merely a means to an end—reuniting with Daisy. Gatsby's tragic flaw is

his belief that money can buy happiness and love. His fixation on an idealized past blinds

him to the reality that Daisy is incapable of fulfilling his dream. Despite his wealth, Gatsby

remains isolated and unfulfilled, highlighting the futility of his pursuits.

 Daisy Buchanan, too, is caught in the illusion of happiness, but her disillusionment

stems from a different source. Daisy is initially drawn to Gatsby’s charisma and the

romanticized idea of love he represents. However, she chooses to marry Tom Buchanan, a

man of immense wealth and social standing, prioritizing security over true emotional

connection. Daisy's life, characterized by luxury and ease, is devoid of genuine happiness.

Her discontent is evident in her cynicism and the hollow nature of her relationships. Daisy's

pursuit of happiness through material comfort and social status leads to a life of

superficiality and emotional emptiness. Her decision to remain with Tom despite his

infidelities underscores her entrapment in a gilded cage, where the appearance of happiness

masks a deeper unhappiness.

Tom Buchanan represents another facet of the illusion of happiness. His wealth and

status afford him power and control, which he wields ruthlessly. Tom's sense of superiority

and entitlement are evident in his treatment of others, particularly in his extramarital affair

with Myrtle Wilson. Tom's actions suggest that he seeks happiness through dominance and

hedonistic pleasures. However, his aggressive behavior and underlying insecurities reveal a

profound dissatisfaction. Tom's inability to find contentment despite his privileged position

exemplifies the novel's critique of the American aristocracy's moral decay. His violent

reaction to Gatsby and Daisy’s affair, driven by jealousy and fear of losing control, further

exposes the fragility of his constructed happiness.

Fitzgerald uses these characters to critique the broader societal obsession with wealth

and status as measures of success and happiness. The novel’s setting in the Roaring

Twenties, a period marked by economic prosperity and cultural change, provides a backdrop

for exploring these themes. The ostentatious displays of wealth, the reckless pursuit of
2
pleasure, and the moral ambiguity of the era reflect the characters’ misguided attempts to

find happiness. The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, a symbol of Gatsby’s unattainable

dream, serves as a poignant reminder of the illusory nature of their aspirations.

Gatsby's grandiose vision of happiness is rooted in his love for Daisy, which he

believes can only be realized by attaining immense wealth. His transformation from James

Gatz, a poor farmer's son, to Jay Gatsby, a wealthy and mysterious tycoon, is driven by the

belief that material success is the key to winning Daisy’s love. However, Gatsby's wealth,

gained through criminal activities, lacks a solid foundation, much like his dream. Gatsby’s

mansion, his luxurious parties, and his lavish lifestyle are all part of a grand illusion designed

to attract Daisy. Yet, despite all his efforts, Daisy remains unattainable, a mere symbol of his

lost youth and the American Dream's false promise. Gatsby's tragic end underscores the

futility of his pursuit, as he dies still clinging to his illusion, unable to grasp the reality of his

unfulfilled desires.

Daisy Buchanan embodies the conflict between genuine emotion and societal

expectations. Her choice to marry Tom Buchanan, despite her lingering feelings for Gatsby,

highlights the societal pressures that dictate her actions. Daisy's initial enchantment with

Gatsby is overshadowed by her pragmatic decision to choose the stability and security that

Tom's wealth offers. This choice, however, comes at the cost of her happiness. Daisy's life

with Tom is marked by emotional neglect and infidelity, leading to her deep-seated

dissatisfaction. Her apparent charm and beauty mask a profound inner emptiness, as she

navigates a world where appearances are valued over substance. Daisy's inability to break

free from societal norms and her reliance on material comfort underscore the novel's critique

of the superficial nature of happiness.

3
 Tom Buchanan's pursuit of happiness through power and control reveals the darker

side of wealth and privilege. Tom's arrogance and sense of entitlement are products of his

social status, which he uses to manipulate and dominate those around him. His affair with

Myrtle Wilson is an assertion of his power, reflecting his belief that he is above societal

rules. However, Tom's aggressive behavior and deep insecurities suggest that his pursuit of

happiness is a facade. Despite his outward confidence, Tom is plagued by the fear of losing

his status and control. His violent reaction to Gatsby and Daisy’s affair exposes his

vulnerability and the fragility of his constructed happiness. Tom's character serves as a

critique of the moral decay and emptiness that accompany the pursuit of happiness through

dominance and materialism.

Fitzgerald's portrayal of these characters serves as a broader critique of the American

Dream and the societal values of the 1920s. The novel’s setting in the Jazz Age, a time of

unprecedented economic growth and cultural change, highlights the disparity between the

era's prosperity and the characters' inner turmoil. The Roaring Twenties, characterized by

excess and hedonism, provides a backdrop for the characters' misguided pursuits. The

novel’s symbols, such as the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock and the eyes of Doctor T.

J. Eckleburg, further emphasize the theme of illusion versus reality. The green light

represents Gatsby’s unattainable dream, while the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg symbolize

the moral decay and loss of spiritual values in a society obsessed with wealth.

In summary, "The Great Gatsby" delves into the illusory nature of happiness pursued

through materialism and social status. Through the tragic lives of Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom,

Fitzgerald illustrates that such pursuits are inherently flawed and lead to inevitable

disappointment. The novel’s enduring significance lies in its critique of the American Dream
4
and the moral decay that accompanies the relentless pursuit of wealth and superficial

success. By revisiting these major points, it becomes clear that Fitzgerald's work serves as a

cautionary tale about the dangers of equating happiness with material possessions and social

prestige. Ultimately, "The Great Gatsby" exposes the emptiness of such aspirations and calls

for a deeper understanding of true fulfillment and happiness. The characters’ tragic ends

serve as a powerful reminder that genuine happiness cannot be found in the pursuit of

illusions but rather in authentic human connections and self-awareness.

Bibliography

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.

Lehan, Richard. The Great Gatsby: The Limits of Wonder. Twayne Publishers, 1990.

Mizener, Arthur. The Far Side of Paradise: A Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Houghton

Mifflin, 1951.

Tredell, Nicolas. F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby: Essays, Articles, Reviews. Columbia

University