The Myth and Reality of the American Dream as Depicted in Death of a Salesman and The Great Gatsby

The American Dream, which is highly regarded in American culture, is based on the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve wealth and success through hard work, determination, and pure ambition. In fictional narratives, this dream is paradoxically portrayed to highlight the inherent struggle of the ideal. Both Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (1949) and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) provide critical insights into the illusion of this dream and the tragic repercussions of adhering to such an ideal. This paper concentrates on these two texts and how they aim to dismantle the myths surrounding the American Dream. By examining its contradictions, shortcomings, and failures, while focusing on the characters and their personal lives, relationships, and the social dynamics influencing their existence, the researchers have constructed and analyzed the primary argument regarding how these works critique the American Dream and the idea of nationalism that transcends borders. Through the complexities and dilemmas associated with the American Dream, the realities faced by Gatsby and Loman have been revealed—their profound tragedies intertwined with the broader American tragedy.