Happiness In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925 is a tale of unchecked ambition in the pursuit of the American dream. Although many associate the American dream with the pursuit of wealth, the novel depicts many other aims of life. While the millionaire, Jay Gatsby, strives for his true love, others chase wealth, peace, and even knowledge in order to lead them towards happiness. As seen throughout the book, there is no single path through which one can pursue happiness, and many characters strive towards their own notions of the American dream. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald portrays an issue that has plagued humans for years. What is happiness? How is it achieved? Such inquiries have inspired religion, philosophy, and the actions …show more content…
Not one human shares a path to bliss with another, and such a concept is conveyed in the core beliefs and doctrines of several religions. In the Hindu religion, followers are encouraged to follow their Dharma, or moral duty. It is through following one’s duty that all humans can eventually reach Moksha, or liberation from the suffering of the human condition. Although social status and upbringing may result in similar paths, the actions of the individual shape their path, and can move them forward or backwards in their journey for ultimate bliss. The same concept of a spiritual obligation is conveyed in Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. Joe, the uncle of the main character Pip, tells him that “One man’s a blacksmith, and one’s a whitesmith, and one’s a goldsmith, and one’s a coppersmith. Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come” (Dickens 224). Although all men and women are aiming for a common goal, each individual possess their own duty. By carrying out their moral obligation, they are walking the path of happiness, and benefiting both themselves and society as a whole. Although many may seem similar, each individual travels their own path towards