American Literature CLEP Prep 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Gatsby's extravagant parties serve as a symbol of the American Dream and its complexities in "The Great Gatsby." While they are outwardly grand displays of wealth and social status, they also represent the pursuit of success and the idea that material wealth can lead to happiness and acceptance. Gatsby throws these lavish gatherings hoping to attract Daisy Buchanan, the woman he loves, believing that if he can just demonstrate his wealth, he will win her back. However, the parties also reveal the emptiness of this pursuit. Despite the opulence and the crowd of guests, Gatsby remains isolated and unfulfilled, highlighting the dichotomy between the ideal of the American Dream and the reality of loneliness that often accompanies it.

Through the lens of Gatsby's parties, Fitzgerald critiques the notion that wealth alone equates to happiness and fulfillment, suggesting that the American Dream is fraught with disillusionment and a deep longing for connection that materialism cannot satisfy. Thus, while the parties may initially appear to symbolize success, they ultimately underscore the hollowness of a life devoted entirely to the pursuit of wealth and status in the context of the American Dream.