The American Dream is a fundamental part of The Great Gatsby, but this dream is not only corrupted, but also distorted from its original version. The American Dream ideally represents an upwardly mobile, successful way of life attained through hard work and determination. In the novel, however, the dream is corrupted and distorted by the characters’ excessive materialism, lust for power, and general disregard for the law.

Most of the characters in The Great Gatsby, including Gatsby himself, obtain their wealth and power through illegal behavior, such as bootlegging and bribery. This “bootlegging” of the dream implies that happiness and success can be bought with money, rather than earned through hard work and determination. Nick Carraway even states how awed and disgusted he is by the ostentatious lifestyles of his peers and how their disregard for the law testifies to “the inexhaustible variety of human fraudulence.”

The novel also highlights the corrupting effects of extreme materialism. Characters come to measure their self worth by their possessions rather than by their character, qualities, or achievements. Gatsby is a prime example of this; his endless parties and expensive possessions become mere means to an end. He wants Daisy, and he believes that being wealthy will draw her attention. Additionally, Daisy and Tom’s focus on materialism and money blinds them to the humanity and emotions of those around them.

Ultimately, The Great Gatsby demonstrates that unrestrained materialism, overwhelming lust for power, and illegal activities can corrupt and distort the American Dream, turning it into something superficial and hollow.