Essays and reviews. Fitzgerald uses a variety of literary devices and symbols to depict the illusory nature of the American dream in The Great Gatsby. An important symbol in the book is the. Title: The American dream as a means of social criticism in The Great Gatsby. Author: Lovisa Lindberg Supervisor: Zlatan Filipovic Summary: The purpose of this article is to show how Fitzgerald uses the American Dream as a means of social critique of the moral implications that accompany great wealth and material excess. This is described,Introduction. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story and a critical examination of the American dream. The American Dream is the belief that individuals, regardless of class, race, gender, or nationality, can achieve great success in the United States through hard work and perseverance. The Great Gatsby is about the dead American dream. Fitzgerald worries about the new wealth that seems to be driving people crazy, especially on the East Coast. The American dream was one of innovation, laissez-faire and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, that dream is dead. The slow death of the American dream, but "The Great Gatsby" presents a much more complex and nuanced view of the American dream, highlighting how it can be both seductive and ultimately unsatisfying. The plot "The Great Gatsby" is narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest who moves to New York to work in the bond business. The role of women in Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby”. Although the women in the novel are portrayed as careless, treacherous, and selfish, the author uses them to emphasize the power of the will to rebel against societal norms in pursuit of happiness. The corrupted American dream and its meaning in “The Great Gatsby”.