The theme of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is the "withering of the American Dream." The original American Dream held out the promise of endless opportunities, individualism, and progress. Believing in this idea, Jay Gatsby invests his entire life into a single dream: The revival of a past romance with Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby's longing to fulfill his dream, his pursuit of fortune, and his optimism are all aspects of the American Dream. However, a changed society following World War I destroys his vision. Just as the unworthy object of Gatsby's affection is Daisy, the new, unworthy object of the American Dream is merely money and pleasure. Once achieved, the dream is simultaneously ruined.
             Gatsby's dream to revive his romance with Daisy is rooted in the past. He has always been determined to surpass his parents in wealth and status. Meeting the aristocratic Daisy provides Gatsby with additional reason to pursue a fortune. For years, he works with "creative passion" (97) in order to present himself as Daisy's equal. He believes that he can win over both Daisy and her society with lavish expenditures. The origins of Gatsby's wealth are clearly illegal, but his desire to join the upper ranks of society is his only concern. The integrity of the American Dream has degenerated and ambitious men like Gatsby no longer consider the morality of their actions, as seen in the rise of organized crime and bootlegging. As Gatsby directs all his energies towards wooing Daisy, he instills her with an idealized perfection that she does not possess: "There must have been moments ... when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams - not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything." (97) Gatsby creates this "illusion" from his past memories, while he anxiously waits to reunite with her. However, ...