American Dream in The Great Gatsby and When the Emperor was Divine Essay Example

Many people are aware of the American Dream, this awareness comes from personal experiences, Although everyone has their own concept of what it is, how can the American dream be defined? Readers can find the answer in particular from two novels. Characters and events in "The Great Gatsby" and "When the Emperor was Divine" led readers to the conclusion that the American Dream is the desire one has for a happier future, and the disappointment they experience after realizing it's not what they anticipated. In "The Great Gatsby," we get to know characters who represent the American Dream and reveal the deception that may result from it. During World War II, "When the Emperor was Divine" follows a family as they relocate to internment camps. Experiences and the betrayal they endured demonstrate how not everything is as it seems.  

"The Great Gatsby" inspires readers to picture the parties being described. Jay Gatsby is the man who always has these parties. He is a mysterious man which no one seems to know, but everyone has their own theories and rumors. Daisy was his first love when he was a young man. Daisy is a stunning woman who exudes purity.  But as the story progresses, we begin to see her true colors and her true personality. She is actually a greedy woman . Daisy, who represents the American Dream, captivates everyone. She makes people believe they know her, but they are both quite untruthful behind it all. She is obsessed with money, seeks recognition, and chases for attention. Jay Gatsby is one of these individuals who is blinded by her false persona. a man who aspires to a life of success and happiness with Daisy. Sadly, he was killed before he could complete his dream. The fact that  Gatsby was assassinated demonstrates that the American Dream is an illusion and not always what it seems.  

The family was very stable in "When the Emperor was Divine." They lived in a happy home in a nice community. A mother, father, sister, brother, dog, and bird  appeared to be living the ideal life or "dream" in America. However, everything changed when they were forced to relocate to internment camps as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. All families of Japanese heritage were relocated to these camps by the authorities. The chapters in the book alternate between the sister's, the mother's, and the brother's points of view as they describe their experience in the camps. It conveys how awful it was and the discomfort they had when forced to move. They had a wonderful life before, but they were forced to leave it all behind because in America, those who are not white are not considered innocent. There was nothing they could do about the authorities  attacks. However, others in positions of authority continued to accuse them of wrongdoing and treated them much differently simply  based on the color of their skin. They had an incorrect conception of what America was and what the American dream was. The young boy wanted to pursue his dream to play in the mlb, which is one of the most American professional sports , but that was all taken from him. This is a perfect demonstration of how they felt like Americans. The families felt betrayed reveals how twisted the American dream really is. It's supposed to be living a happy equal life but unfortunately it once again wasn't as it seems. 

In the books "The Great Gatsby" and "When the Emperor Was Divine," readers use character experiences to form the belief that the American Dream is unattainable. It's your dedication to succeed. This is demonstrated by Jay Gatsby, who longs for a life with Daisy and is doing everything in his power to obtain it, only to be murdered. This is also displayed by the Japanese family who were relocated to internment camps. They would have to live with the consequences of their betrayal for the rest of their lives.