'How is the American Dream portrayed in the texts 'The Great Gatsby' and the film 'American Beauty'?

The American Dream is said to be the ultimate state to be in. it, however, requires a person to make numerous sacrifices to achieve this state and many people don't see how flawed and unrealistic it is. The noel The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, and the movie American Beauty by Mendes, explore the notion of the flawed American Dream and demonstrate how the relationship between the individual and their society us responsible for the sacrifices …

…nothing, without even realising it. The American dream is also about being materially and emotionally filled, hand in hand, but that never occurs in either of the texts. This proves that the ultimate dream is unrealistic and unachievable. Both the Great Gatsby and American Beauty show how even though people appear to be happy we need to look closer and see what they are doing to themselves and realise what is truly important in life.