The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, chronicles Jay Gatsby's pursuit of the American dream and his inevitable downfall as he attempts to achieve this imaginary goal. The typical idea behind the American dream is to be happy by any means necessary and the characters try to achieve this happiness with large sums of money, which leads to the characters' disappointment and unhappiness. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby believes that happiness can be acquired through the accumulation of wealth. In the novel, the characters' perception of the American dream is perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal and leaves the characters disappointed. Jay Gatsby is a clear example of the failure of the American dream. Gatsby is living the American dream. At first, he appears to be an honest and wealthy man and is a great example of how hard work can bring great amounts of wealth and power. Gatsby shows that it is possible to achieve wealth and power through determination. Gatsby, however, earned his wealth and reputation through illegal activities, including the contraband trade. Because Gatsby had to earn his wealth through bootlegging, the use of greed, selfishness, and arrogance was found to be valued more highly than the simple means of working hard, taking responsibility, d to have respect and show decency in the eyes of the rich. people in East Egg. These people are blinded by their own misdirection and believe that money can buy happiness. They come to Gatsby's parties uninvited and talk disrespectfully about Gatsby in his own house: "Someone told me he thought he killed a man once..." I don't think so whether it was so much that… rather it was. a German spy during the war” (48). People tend to overlook the significant characteristics of others and find ways to ridicule the negative characteristics of others.