Question

In The Great Gatsby, how does Gatsby represent the American Dream, and what does the novel have to say about the condition of the American Dream in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

Gatsby represents the American Dream by starting over and attempting to right the past. Just as the earliest settlers in America thought they could begin anew on the continent and correct the problems besetting Europe, so Gatsby thinks he and Daisy can start over as if their five-year separation never happened. Fitzgerald shows the condition of the American Dream as tarnished by the 1920s, revealing the problem with trying to start again as if the past never occurred.

Answer

For Fitzgerald, the American Dream began with the first sailors who set eyes on the "green breast" of a new continent and believed they could start anew there. They thought they could rewind the past and start over, correcting all the mistakes made in Europe. This time, they would build society correctly, without the corruption that had tainted European culture.
Gatsby unknowingly represents that particular iteration of the American Dream. He wants nothing more than to roll the clock back five years and start over again with Daisy, as if none of the intervening time had passed. He wants her to give up Tom and marry him. Gatsby feels as if he can take scissors and cut out the time between him last seeing her and now as if it never happened. When Nick tries to tell him it can't be done, Gatsby is incredulous and insists it can.
The dream of righting the wrongs of the past is flawed, because it is impossible to ever truly start over. The baggage of the past comes with us. The novel shows that 1920s America is no nirvana: the class system in which a few, like Tom Buchanan, have great wealth while many have nothing still exists. Europe's legacy has not been erased. Likewise, it is impossible for Daisy to erase her five years with Tom and go off with Gatsby. The dream is just that—a dream. It propels us forward but can never be realized.

Answer

Fitzgerald's novel is often seen as a commentary on the corruption of the American Dream. Immorality, superficiality and bad behavior are all characteristics of the upper classes in the novel yet the aspiration to be upper class - to have everything and have fun too - is not directly questioned by the characters in the novel (with the partial exception of Nick). 
It may be helpful here to note that the novel was written as a satire, loosely based on the Roman satirical figure Trimalchio, a man who dresses up to be rich.

Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in the form of a satire, a criticism of society's foibles through humor. The elements of satire in the book include the depiction of the nouveau riche (“newly rich”), the sense of vulgarity of the people, the parties intended to draw Daisy over, the grotesque quality of the name “Great” Gatsby in the title. (eNotes)

Jay Gatsby in particular can be seen as a representative of the corruption of the American Dream. As a young man he believed in the commonly held views that "character" was essential for success. We can see this clearly in the notebook that he kept as a young man, filled with self-improvement plans, most of which focus on building "good character".

Gatsby’s day began at an early 6:00 for exercise, study, work, sports, elocution, and poise as well as general resolves such as “saving $3.00 per week”.

The irony, of course, is that Gatsby grows up to be a criminal. Gatsby succeeds in attaining great wealth (part of the "Dream") but he becomes a corrupted figure morally. The element of self-improvement that is integral to the American Dream becomes highly ironic in Gatsby as his character does not improve as his bank account grows. 
We can see a similar moral dynamic represented in the figures of Jordan, Daisy, and Tom - all people who have the means to be satisfied with their lives yet who cheat in one way or another. Money does not "improve" people but seems to corrupt them instead. Thus the American Dream becomes an aspiration to material wealth and no more, losing the moral aspect of its promise of "the good life".

Answer

Gatsby represents the American dream because he had nothing, and wanted to make is life sucessful and worthwhile. He put so much work into the dream, although, only a few actually make it. He didn't make it because his dream was the be rich and marry Daisy. The american dream in the 1920s was filled with hard work, but in the end, filled with the glamour of the roaring 20s.

Gatsby represents the American dream of self-made wealth and happiness, the spirit of youth and resourcefulness, and the ability to make something of one's self despite one's origins. -enotes.com study guide

This novel is based on the theme dreams, as everyone had a dream, but could not achieve, even in the freedom filled America. Since there is so much freedom, not everyone is taken care of, so only the very few, like those of west egg who are the 'new money' make it, or those of 'west egg' who already had the resources to fufill their dreams. At this time in American history, these dreams were a lot more realistic. With wall st. and stocks booming, your dreams seemed like you could be able to touch them. A decade later, circumstances were different. The great depression hit and a lot of people had nothing, no money at all. Their dreams were too far away, and they knew they would never achieve it.

The Great Gatsby

How Does Gatsby Represent The American Dream

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