The prosperity of wealth, the desire of luxuries, and hope for happiness, seemingly achieved through a little hard work and sacrifice regardless of background. The American dream.  In the novel, F Scott Fitzgerald uncovers the harsh reality behind the societal expectations that shaped the thoughts of all Americans. Criticizing the provocative society of the 20s, Fitzgerald exposes, through the use of setting. The Valley of Ashes, West Egg and East Egg, initially seen as vastly contrasting, are revealed in the novel for distinct similarity, corruption and materialism.

The valley of ashes, a desolate setting used to demonstrate how materialism and lack of moral value results in the corruption of the American Dream.  The novel explains the valley of ashes as “a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens.. finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.” This description explains the consequences of social and moral decay in the American Dream. Fitzgerald’s intended to show the distinct contrast between the gloomy atmosphere of the valley and the extravagant wealth of the East Egg. As the working “ash-grey men” struggle to maintain a reasonable life for their families in the valley of ashes, those in East and West Egg, roll around in their money, considering nothing but themselves. This can be recognized through the life of poor George Wilson, a man engrossed by poverty.  “I need money pretty bad, my wife and I want to go west… She’s been talking about it for ten years.” “I’m going to get her away”  this quote states that George has worked himself sick, so he and his wife Myrtle can escape the valley of ashes and pursue the American dream. However, this dream is abruptly ended, as Myrtle has been killed, resulting from selfless actions of the upper class. The setting of the valley of ashes and the unfortunate lives of its residents powerfully implies that due to societies extreme materialism the American dream is corruptible and made unattainable.

West Egg, home to successful new money, a lavish yet fraudulent setting used to demonstrate the corruptive ways of the American Dream. These successors, typically brought up in less fortunate environments, could be considered an achiever of the dream, however, their success has involved unauthorised crimes. Tom Buchanan, an east egger, mentions “Everyone in west egg is a bootlegger”, many east eggers despise west egg for its “new” money and consider the setting as a false achievement of the dream as attained through corruptive activities. Although his arrogance towards West Egg, he is correct. Described as the self-made wealth, the residents of East Egg have achieved their version of the dream through unlawful activities. A pure representation of achieving the American Dream corruptly. The similarities of west egg and east are revealed as is mentioned: “I lived at West Egg, the — well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and not a little sinister contrast between them,”. This quote shows the reader that west egg will forever be considered less flamboyant due to the people who live there and their illegitimate ways of accomplishing success, West Eggs peninsula will forever be overshadowed by the grander, East Egg. The Setting of West Egg expresses the corruptive actions behind the glitz and glamour of the American Dream and the false reality of obtaining it.

East egg, the fortunate residents engulfed by a world of materialism. Fitzgerald’s use of the setting in East Egg is to establish the materialistic ways of the American Dream. Materialism is described as having more concern over possession and material things than spiritual morals and values. “Across the courtesy bay the white places of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water” this quote describing the perfection and extravagance of the people of East Egg, their wealth and success overpowering their regard for others. The materialistic ways of the so-called American Dream can be emphasized through two of our main characters. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” Fitzgerald’s use of this quote implied how success and wealth overpowers the characters’ humanity. Materialism takes over the lives of many. Daisy Buchanan, a character captivated by money and the American Dream’s materialistic ways. Not only does she marry a successful man she doesn’t love, Tom Buchanan. She believes that money is her remedy. Her ideologies about wealth and her humane values disregarded shows her true obsession with financial stability, regardless of how badly Tom treats her, she fails to care. Instead she’s held on tightly to the idea that money is the cure-all for everything. The members of east egg demonstrate how materialism overwhelms the good of humanity.

In conclusion, the novel has shown the reader the vile and unfortunate truth behind the American Dream. The materialistic and corruptive ideals provide evidence that not only is the dream discriminatory, it is an unattainable fantasy regardless of a person’s social position. Corruption and materialism taunt those in desperation, present to those fraudulent and conceal the privilege. Through the thoughts and ideas of F Scott Fitzgerald, the American Dream has been exposed as unrealistically unattainable, achieved or not, the American Dream shows no result of expressive happiness.