What is Gatsby's American Dream?

Gatsby may be able to amass great wealth, but this wealth does not garner him the change in status for which he was hoping. His American Dream isn't just about getting rich but about changing stations, so to speak; he wants to rise to Daisy's social level. However, he purchases a home in West Egg, the "less fashionable" of the two vaguely egg-shaped land formations on Long Island, rather than East Egg, where all the most elite people with old money live. People with old money inherited it rather than having had to work for it, and this makes it superior to new money, which is earned. Nick describes Daisy as belonging to a "rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged." Gatsby, however, never seems to realize this. He wears a pink suit and drives a flashy car and lives in a somewhat gaudy house and throws parties that include vulgar and shady people. He's obviously rich, but he's also obviously not from "polite" society. He doesn't see that he is over-the-top, that he simply does not fit in with people like the Buchanans and he never will.

The American Dream is the idea that an individual from humble beginnings can earn financial freedom and advance their social class through hard work and dedication. Jay Gatsby earns the typical American Dream by entering the bootlegging business and amassing wealth through illegal means. Despite growing up in a working class family, Gatsby earns enough money to buy a beautiful mansion located on Long Island's West Egg. Despite his seemingly unlimited material possessions, Gatsby's energy is focused toward Daisy Buchanan. Jay Gatsby's American Dream involves a healthy marriage with Daisy Buchanan, which is something he cannot achieve. Gatsby's motivation for becoming extremely wealthy revolves around the possibility of one day getting married to Daisy. Unlike Gatsby, Daisy hails from a traditionally wealthy family and would not agree to marry a man of Gatsby's original social status. Gatsby eventually achieves his dream of becoming wealthy and prestigious throughout New York, only to have his hopes destroyed once Tom exposes him as a bootlegger. Daisy decides to remain in her unhealthy relationship with Tom because she does not feel secure with Gatsby. Gatsby's American Dream is unattainable because Daisy is a superficial, hollow individual, who predominantly cares about money.