Do middle class Americans really have enough money to live the good life? Some people may have fantasies about winning the lottery or finding a get-rich-quick scheme. Some people dream of having money. Then they could afford the American Dream. If they perceive the American Dream as tangible wealth and nothing more, they will find themselves always trying to buy that dream. Like Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, using money to get hold of the American Dream will leave them feeling empty and dejected.
I loved the movie in which Robert Redford plays Gatsby in an adaptation of Fitzgerald story of the quest for an American dream. Gatsby grows up penniless, but dreams of having the wealth needed to buy beauty. “To young Gatz, resting on his oars, looking up at the railed deck, that yacht represented all the beauty and glamour in the world.” This quote from the novel illustrates how Gatsby came to value material possessions. Gatsby thinks he can buy love and happiness by using his money to impress a woman named Daisy. His ploy works until she discovers how he made his great fortune. Then the awe created by having money was lost because bootlegging was not a legitimate method to attain riches. She cares more about where the money came from than the amount he lavishes on her and others.
I asked my sister what was more important than money. She answered immediately, “Family.” She felt that investing in those things that money can’t buy is the only way to have and hold the true American Dream. Investing your time and efforts in family, friends, and loved ones is the only way to achieve true and lasting riches. I agree that your health, your education, and your reputation are all more valuable than material riches. These intangibles mean more and have more value than anything money can buy. If more people realized this simple truth, they would be happier with less.
References
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: McMillan, 1925.
Lorenz, Jenny. "Great Gatsby Quotes." ThinkExist.com. 21 Oct 2008
http://thinkexist.com/great_gatsby_quotes/>.
Zuckerman, Mortimer. "The American Dream Goes On." U.S. News and World Report
06132008 22 Oct 2008
3 comments:
Reva,
I agree with your sister. Family is much more important than money. The statement "money can't buy happiness" is true. If more people would put families before material possessions the world would be a better place.
Julie
Family is the one reasons I'm still in my hometown of Springfield, MO. The unconditional love of a family is the foundation of life. I find so much inspiration in my 2 year old nephew, his innocence is real. I also get caught up in money and tangible wealth. I have not lived that kind of life before. Vacations, nice clothes, a house; these can create a lot of comfort and happiness.
JR
I agree with your observation. Lasting wealth cannot be bought. It seems to me that the most valuable things cannot be paid for using money. Take family for example. There is not enough money to pay family members for all they do for us.
When we talk of the American dream, it appears that some people think of material wealth before anything else. However, it does not take long for them to discover that most things in this life are transient. Otherwise, they discover that the goods do not live up to their expectations. It may take a while for each one to find out that most of the stuff they accumulate, along the way is not worth holding on to. It is as though people go through stages. I choose to call it growth or maturity. The next step in the process is to make changes. It is where we invest in the things that truly enrich our lives; family, causes, etc.
Jackline.
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