Parallel Themes in the Great Gatsby and Winter Dreams free essay sample

He is so focused on pursuing his dream of wealth that the means by which this wealth is produced do not matter. Green’s pursuit of wealth is not quite as successful. Having earned his money through legitimate sources and hard work, he does not allow himself to feel comfortable around the very people he once aspired to befriend, thinking that this new status is purchased, rather than deserved. Neither man finds personal fulfillment through their wealth and status. Another similarity between Gatsby and Green is that they each fall in love with the beautiful and ignorant rich girl, who does not return the same affections. Gatsby uses his illegally gained wealth to impress his former girlfriend, Daisy Buchanan, who married another man while Gatsby was at war. She entertains his pursuits, but only until it was not beneficial to her to do so. Green also uses money to impress Judy Jones, a manipulative woman with a constantly rotating cast of various boyfriends. We will write a custom essay sample on Parallel Themes in the Great Gatsby and Winter Dreams or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, Green’s wealth is exaggerated, and eventually he also loses the woman he loves to another wealthy suitor. Gatsby and Green only want their love to be returned, when instead the objects of their affections leave them once the novelty of having a lover has worn off. The shared themes in The Great Gatsby and â€Å"Winter Dreams† manifest in the parallel characters of Jay Gatsby and Dexter Green. Each protagonist comes from a simple background, yet yearns for more in order to impress the woman that he loves. These women come from wealthier families, and they also manipulate others in order to get what they want. Although both Gatsby and Green achieve their dreams of wealth and status, neither finds the personal fulfillment that he was looking for. Somewhere along the road to success, these men forgot that money cannot buy true happiness.