Does Fitzgerald Condemn The American Dream In "The Great Gatsby?"

Fitzgerald not only condemns the American Dream but sets the death and downfall of the American Dream as the primary theme of the novel. Throughout the novel Fitzgerald deliberately makes all characters with money appear to be unhappy, dysfunctional, snobbish, and immoral, thus contradicting the stereotyped idea of the American Dream. The American Dream that includes a happy family, living together, having lots of money and living happily ever after. <Tab/>…

…end of the novel the reader is saying to himself, "What American Dream is this? Is this a joke?" This is exactly what Fitzgerald wants you to think. He wants you to understand that he condemns the American Dream with a fervent and unequivocal passion. He wants immigrants from other countries who envy us to think twice before coming to America, and he wants the reader to be left pondering the meaning of this book.