Danny WalkerB period3/26/01 The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is about the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to capture it. This dream has varying significance's for different people but in The Great Gatsby, for Gatsby, the dream is that of wealth and power. To get this happiness Jay must reach into the past and relive an old dream and in order to do this he must have wealth and power. Jay Gatsby, the central figure of the story, is a character that longs for the past. Gatsby devotes most of his adult life trying to recapture his dream and, finally, dies in its pursuit. In the past, Jay had a love affair with Daisy who was very beautiful. Knowing he could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to make money by selling bootleg liqueur over the counter of his drug stores. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to Daisy, "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy wo!
             uld be just across the bay," and throws extravagant parties, hoping that she might show up at one of them. Gatsby does not attend his parties though and watches from a distance. When Daisy does not show up at any of the parties he asks around casually if anyone knows her. Soon he meets Nick Caraway, a friend of Daisy, who agrees to set up a meeting, "He wants to know...if you'll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over"(47). Gatsby's personal dream symbolizes the larger American Dream where all have the opportunity to get what they want. Later, as we see in the Plaza Hotel, Jay still believes that Daisy loves him. He believes this when he takes the blame for Myrtle's death. "Was Daisy driving"(95). "Yes...but of course I'll say I was"(95). He also watches and protects Daisy as she returns home. "How long are you going to wait"(100). "All night if necessary"(100). Jay cannot accept that the past is gone and done with. Jay is s...