Evolving Visions of America: the Great Gatsby

ENG 202

05/14/13

Essay #1

Evolving Visions of America

Visions of the American dream have continuously changed from century to century, resulting in misinterpretations of the dream itself. Through analysis of the stories O Pioneers!, by Willa Cather and The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald I have found a couple major differences between the old cut and dry American dream and the new eras of the materialistic American dream. The visions of the American dream are extremely powerful and have changed the way many people live.

In O Pioneers!, the western frontier of the late 1800’s held a risky American dream. At that time there was little that was known about the land in the west. Those who chose to travel west knew they were taking a risk. However, they chose to settle the unknown land because they had a single dream. They dreamed that with patience and hard work they would be able to build a successful, sustainable life for themselves. Many American’s quickly bought into this vision and soon became know as the American dream.

In the story of O Pioneers!, the American dream surrounds the main character, Alexandra Bergson. She strives to attain the American dream with each decision she makes on her western farm. Her American dream, however, started with her father. “In eleven long years John Bergson had made but little impression upon the wild land he had come to tame.  It was still a wild thing that had its ugly moods; and no one knew when they were likely to come, or why.”(p. 19)

Alexandra’s father had the western vision of the American dream years before she did. Unlike his daughter, he was never able to accomplish it. Living in the west was rough. Many of the farmers had a hard time dealing with bad weather and diseases. Being on the Divide there wasn’t much help within reach. When he died his only wish was that his daughter keep the farm going. Alexandra without question adopted her father’s vision as her own. She was determined to conquer the...