From a Smile to Laughter

F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Gatsby's smile and Daisy's laugh to display the true American Dream versus the corrupt lust for material wealth. gatsby's smile is the essence of the ambition and strive that emcompasses the American dream. His smile is the core of Gatsbys character, you just have to peel away his fake upper class exterior of yellow cars with green interiors, white castles and closets full of beautiful shirts. Gatsby is exempted from nicks judgement because, behind his facade to draw in Daisy, he is the ultimate example of the American Dream, the ultimate example of hope. the last time someone had as much hope/potential was when the Dutch sailor came upon the green breast of New York Hill. Gatsbys capacity for hope excuses him from all of the dust and illusion of his upper class appearence. Daisy's laugh is the corrupt hope of class and wealth that has replaced the spirit of the gatsby and his American dream. Daisy is the yellow and white flower that is encompassed in material wealth and upper class. She is part of the elite group that is allowed to touch Tom's hand when gatsby took her only because he knew he couldn't. The aura of daisy's laugh is the aura of the elite upper class that the American population has created as their ultimate goal, unfortunately this goal has always been artificial. this goal is full of money and this goal is the primary cause for the death of gatsby, the American Dream. Gatsby could of walked alone to gulp down the milk of the universe, but instead he directed his infinite capacity for hope towards daisy and her life of material class. the message that Fitzgerald is trying to send is that gatsby's smile will never vocalize into a full breath of laughter, he will never be a member of the social upper class that daisy is a part of and he will never obtain the fradulent American dream of yellow and white.