Leah WestMiss Sibbach AP English IIIDecember 12, 2014 Quest for the American dream The characters in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald fought for the American dream every day of their lives, realizing that it was not easily achievable, but it was possible. Each individual had a unique idea of ​​the American dream, and each had a very different way of achieving their goal. Money and social status played an important role in many characters' lives and ideas, as well as the initial goal they sought. Fitzgerald shows the characters' motivations to give the audience insight into how they justify their actions to achieve the American dream. Not everyone has achieved the standard of the American dream, but the few who have have. Tom wanted to be a pure, wealthy, high-class man, but he acted with an opposite personality that led many people to dislike him. “His social attitudes are riddled with racism and sexism, and he never even considers trying to live up to the moral standards he demands of those around him. He has no moral qualms about his own extramarital affair with Myrtle…” (SparkNotes). Tom had double standards for Daisy, because when he learned of a potential affair between her and Gatsby, he forced a confrontation with both of them. Tom always runs away from his troubles so as not to get caught, and gets agitated so as not to have to be confronted with his weaknesses. “In addition, he is a rude and violent person who sometimes acts loud and malicious” (Tom). Tom speaks and acts very hypocritically. His harsh words towards Daisy over the affair caused many people to view him as demeaning, so they avoided speaking to him if they could. Despite failing to achieve his American dream, Tom bullies people who he believes are stopping him from getting closer to his idea of ​​a perfect dream. Her American dream was no different from most people in the Roaring Twenties, she wanted to have high social status and obtain great wealth. George, her faithful but poor and lower-class husband, treats her with great respect and is very proud of her. Myrtle does not appreciate his efforts and becomes so dissatisfied with their relationship that she has an affair with Tom. “'I married him because I thought he was a gentleman...I thought he knew about breeding, but he wasn't worthy of licking my shoe'” (Fitzgerald 34) . Myrtle speaks of George so humbly because she wants to escape the unhappiness of their relationship, to hope to live an upper-class life with Tom. Myrtle tries so hard to adopt a different lifestyle and ends up losing everything and dying with nothing.