Comparing The Search for the American Dream in Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman(Essay outline also included in the word count.) People from all over the world have dreamed of coming to America and build a successful life. The “American Dream” is the idea that, through hard work and perseverance, the sky is the limit in terms of financial success and a reliable future. While everyone has a different interpretation of the “American Dream,” some people use it as an excuse to justify their greed and selfish desires. Two respected works of modern American literature, The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman, give us insight into how individual interpretation and pursuit of the "American Dream" can produce tragic results. Jay Gatsby, from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, built his "American Dream" on the belief that wealth would earn him acceptance. In pursuit of his dream, Gatsby has spent his life trying to achieve wealth and the sophistication he believes it brings. Jay Gatsby, lacking true sophistication, reflects the adolescent image of the rich man and "[arises] from his Platonic conception of himself" (Fitzgerald 104). Gatsby is a watered down version of a member of the true social elite. Therefore, he uses the phrase “old sport” because he feels it exudes the proper higher education that he lacks (134). Furthermore, Gatsby makes the pursuit of wealth and refinement an obsession. As a child, Gatsby kept a list of “General Resolutions” that outlined his plans for achieving wealth and sophistication (181). When he is exposed to society during World War I, he becomes obsessed with members of the wealthy upper class, such as Daisy, whose voice is "full of money" (127). Finally, Gatsby believes that wealth is the only means of paper.......A. Gatsby believed that wealth would gain acceptance, Willy believed that being well liked would gain financial success1. "no real right to touch her hand" lacked real resources, "left her believing that she was a person from more or less the same social stratum as her" (Fitzgerald 156)2. Well "liked it...you'll never want it" (Miller 33)B. Gatsby set concrete long-term goals, Willy looked for the quick fix1. Gatsby developed self-improvement activities “elocution [and] poise,” physical exercises, and the study of technology (Fitzgerald 181)2. Willy proclaims “I'll kill them next week [in Hartford]…I'm very well liked in Hartford” (Miller 36)C. Willy does not have the ability to understand Gatsby's opulence1. Nick intimidated by Gatsby's mansion (Fitzgerald 96-97)2. “For the first time in thirty-five years we were free and clear” (Miller 137)Conclusion: