Triangulated Dreams

Comparison Essay # 106012

History > Leaders
Literature > American
Philosophy

Triangulated Dreams

This paper looks at the American Dream and compares Bill Clinton to Jay Gatsby of 'The Great Gatsby'.

1,138 words () | 8 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that by the middle of the 19th century, Jefferson's famous expression regarding all men being created equal had become the cornerstone for an ideology known as Manifest Destiny. The bloom of the American Dream later wilted, as portrayed by F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby', with poisons of immorality into a triangulation of corruption. The writer discusses that both Clinton and Gatsby have chased their own American Dream, but in a self-induced state of lies and deceit. The writer notes that Gatsby's future ended short with failure to fulfill his dream, while Clinton's failures have not presently met such drastic conclusions. The writer concludes that from Thomas Jefferson, through the era of triangulation, 'The Great Gatsby' displays how the American Dream has withered away as the paths of dishonesty, greed, and corruption are taken in the ultimate pursuit of happiness.

From the Paper:

"This statement about Gatsby is just as true for Clinton. From the start of his tenure in 1993 until the last days of 2000, President Clinton produced many positive actions and executive orders such as The Family and Medical Leave Act, The Brady Act, and an increased minimum wage. Gatsby also seemed to produce positive events by opening the doors to his mansion to all who would come, with weekly celebrations of food, music, and entertainment.
"With as much weight as constructive actions may carry, some of Clinton's political decisions seemed to diminish any existence of good just as Gatsby's false social and self-promoting pronouncements. On top of the countless lies, Clinton gave a middle-class tax increase, a policy known as ... "

Sample of Sources Used:

Allen, J. (1996, August 16). The biggest tax increase in history. Slate. Retrieved November 24, 2007, from http://www.slate.com/id/1037
Brainy Quote (2007). Thomas Jefferson quotes. Retrieved November 21, 2007, from http://brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff157212.html
Clinton, W. (2004). My life. New York: Random House.
Dictionary.com (2006). American dream. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/american dream
Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The great Gatsby. New York: Scribner.