buy custom Disillusionment in Pursuit of the American Dream essay

buy custom Disillusionment in Pursuit of the American Dream essay Americans have a way of living such kind of lives which struggle for happiness. Many of them believe that happiness is realized through acquiring wealth. However, such an idea is doomed to fail. People all over fight their whole lives to make success to get to their intended goal. Such a goal is different from one person to another. These perceptions all have been defined by the American Dream. Fitzgerald makes use of the idea being in pursuit of happiness in the book Great Gatsby (Bruccoli 2-17). The author of this great book grew up in a period of time where people were seeking prosperity and happiness. Therefore, much of the influence he got in writing this book particularly was the time he lived. The theme of failure has been highlighted by Fitzgerald to develop Jay Gatsby character together with the struggle he makes to win back his True love. Thus, this essay explores the disappointment that engulfs Jay Gatsby, in pursuit of the American Dream as expounded in the book, The Grea t Gatsby. The American Dreams differ from one person to the other. For one, it could be the creation of enough wealth to support the family and live a luxurious life. However, happiness is the peak envisioned by many especially through amassing insurmountable sums of money. The American Dream generally has become the pursuit of prosperity in material things rather than just happiness (Curnutt 23-45). In this classic American book The Great Gatsby, the story revolves around an individual, Jay Gatsby, a poor boy with aspirations of becoming a rich man to win over Daisy, a girl he has fallen irrevocably in love with in his adolescence. The author writes that the truth was ideally that Jay of West Egg could spring from his platonic realization of himself. He is merely regarded as Gods son who the author in a somewhat comic way says that he was simply a son of God as stated. Jay grew as James Gatz, on a Dakota farm which saw him change his name later to Jay Gatsby (Cullen 34-45). The bright prospects that belied the future prompted Jay to change his name. The conviction that he would turn away from his dark past and face a promising future always motivated his daily undertakings and chores execution. He however meets Daisy as a young officer in the military in Louisville prior to leaving for World War I. Jay begins to face obstacles in his ambitions. Hefirst cheats on Daisy concerning his past. He presents himself as a well off person that is in a position to move on with Daisy. Daisy makes promises of waiting for Gatsby after he lives for the WWI. Unfortunately, Daisy marries Tom Buchanan after two years. Gatsby at the same time was taking his studies in Oxford to attain education after coming from the war. Gatsby makes a dedication of his entire life to get Daisy back (Prigozy 11-21). This was indeed a humiliating affair. All the effort that was supposed to be put in chasing after his dream has now been changed towards something different. More and problems emerge as he indulges in illegal actions to get millions of money which he sees as important in wining Daisy back to his life. His life turns into illusions and dreams of getting Daisy. His initial plans are diverted and his life is turned in a lousy life of throwing extravagant parties with high hopes that Daisy will avail herself in at least one of the parties. His entire life is completely changed and now lives with the intuition that Daisy will one day chose to come back to him (Curnutt 23-45). His journey to happiness and realizing his American Dream never comes his way. Even after knowing very well that there are no chances that Daisy will return, Gatsby is very committed in protecting her. His life is fully pre-occupied with Daisy such that he cannot find out meaning in any other thing. Gatsbys obstacles to realizing his American dream continues to mount as he fills Daisy with a lot of idealistic faultless image that she cannot truly accomplish in reality and pursues her with an enthusiastic eagerness that in essence blinds him to Daisys boundaries. The more we try to recall the earliest impressions of Gatsbys life, the more surprising the result comes. He has gone through so much in pursuit of happiness yet his success is muddled up in a mild of experiences and life obstacles. As a result of the many life obstacles, his dream of having Daisy has fallen into pieces. He has been left out as a miserable piece of cowhide. Gatsby remained a captive of his identity based on the choices he made; one being Daisy who has turned away from him and the pursuit of monetary wealth ostensibly to woo Daisy back. The turn of events in the life of Gatsby is a true representation of the corruption that prosperity can cause and the unworthy nature of the goaal same as the way Fitzgerald looks at the American Dream completely being fruitless in the 1920s. As the prevailing vivacity, independence and hopefulness of America dwindles to the immorality behind the pursuit of money and riches. Gatsbys character could seem be as a result of the American Dream quintessence. Gatsby is very convinced that if he can create a lot of wealth, he can easily win Daisy and consequently achieve his personal American Dream. However, the truth is that is not apparently going to take place. Fitzgerald (189) says that Gatsbys dream should have appeared so close that he could barely fail to get hold of it. All the same, he did not realize that it was indeed behind him, some place in the vast obscurity far much beyond the city where the dark fields of the nation rolled on in the night. The last words of the book state that Gatsby had the belief that the green light or rather the orgiastic feature year after year recedes in front of us. The American Dream eluded Gatsby and regardless of whatever happens, tomorrow is expected to unfold in a very fast way. Gats by past is very significant to his future dreams as shown by the green light (Prigozy 11-21). However, these moves are disturbed and muddled up by obstacles which he fails to control and manage well. To conclude, the struggle made by human beings to attain their aspirations and dreams through surpassing and in the reconstruction of history is what the Great Gatsby novel is based on. Though the American Dream has held high hopes for people like Gatsby, it has all ended up sour, with less of the expectations met. However, that is not the real issue. The point could have been the manner in which we respond to the consequences and results of pursuing our dreams. This probably determines the eventual success of the individual. While we have hope that things can get better, we should also be prepared if the worst happens. The lack of proper strategies for fall back if things turn out sour characterizes Gatsbys life points the inevitability of failure due to individual mistakes. The failure of such people like Gatsby to fully attain the American goal points to disillusionment, only that is self inflicted and the realization of the American dream is hinged on the individual focus. Life t akes a natural course and does not make provisions for fantasies and if forced, they just vanish like air. Buy custom Disillusionment in Pursuit of the American Dream essay

Alfred Sisley, French Impressionist Landscape Painter

Alfred Sisley, French Impressionist Landscape Painter Alfred Sisley (October 30, 1839 - January 29, 1899) was a French impressionist painter who straddled British and French national identification. Although he received far less praise than some of his contemporaries, he was one of the key artists who began the French impressionist movement. Fast Facts: Alfred Sisley Born: October 30, 1839 in Paris, FranceDied: January 29, 1899 in Moret-sur-Loing, FranceProfession: PainterSpouse: Eugenie LesouezecChildren: Pierre and JeanneArtistic Movement: ImpressionismSelected Works: The Bridge in Argenteuil (1872), Regatta at Molesey (1874), Barges on the Loing at Saint-Mammes (1885)Notable Quote: The animation of the canvas is one of the hardest problems of painting. Early Life and Training Born in Paris, France, the son of wealthy British parents, Alfred Sisley grew up and lived most of his life in France, but he never renounced his British citizenship. His father operated a business exporting silk and artificial flowers. Sisleys mother was extremely knowledgeable about music. In 1857, the parents sent young Albert to London to study for a career in commercial trade. While there, he visited the National Gallery and examined the work of the painters John Constable and J.M.W. Turner. In 1861, Albert Sisley returned to Paris, and a year later began art studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. There, he met fellow painters Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. They frequently took trips to paint landscapes outdoors in an effort to realistically capture the changing impact of sunlight throughout the day. Sisley met Eugenie Lesouezec in 1866. Together, they had two children, Pierre, born in 1867, and Jeanne, born in 1869. Although they remained together until Eugenies death in 1898, they didnt marry until August 5, 1897. In 1870, due to the impact of the Franco-Prussian War, Sisleys fathers business failed. Sisley and his family lived in poverty for the rest of his life, surviving on the income from selling his paintings. The value of his works didnt increase significantly until after his death. The Seine at Point du Jour (1877). Hulton Fine Art / Getty Images Landscape Painter Camille Pissarro and Edouard Manet were primary influences on the style and subject matter of Albert Sisleys paintings. Pissarro and Manet were key figures who provided a bridge to the development of impressionism in the latter part of the 19th century. Sisleys primary subject was landscape painting, and he often depicted dramatic skies. The painting The Bridge in Argenteuil, painted in 1872, shows Sisleys primary interest in the landscape and architecture of the bridge despite the presence of strolling people in the painting. He boldly depicts the clouds in the sky and the rippling effect of waves in the water. The Bridge in Argenteuil (1872). Mondadori Portfolio / Getty Images Barges on the Loing at Saint-Mammes, painted in 1885, shows the bold colors created by the intense sunlight of a warm summer day. The reflections of the buildings along the beach are shown broken up by the movement of the water, and the eye is drawn through perspective to a railway viaduct in the distance. Friendship With Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet Alfred Sisley became close friends with Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet, two of the most prominent impressionists. The trio often painted and socialized together. Sisley was close enough to Renoir that the latter painted multiple portraits of Sisley both alone and with his partner, Eugenie. Albert Sisley painted by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Yorck Project / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Sisley was never as prominent in the Paris art scene as his two close friends. Some observers theorize that is due to the fact that Sisley insisted on embracing both his French and British roots, straddling two cultures, while his better-known colleagues were French through and through. Later Career Constantly seeking a lower cost of living due to struggling to get by on his income from selling paintings, Sisley moved his family to small villages in the French countryside. Late in his career, he began focusing more intently on architecture as a subject in his art. An 1893 series of paintings focuses on a church in the village of Moret-sur-Loing. He also painted a series of depictions of the Rouen Cathedral in the 1890s. Barges on the Loing at Saint-Mammes (1885). Heritage Images / Getty Images Albert and Eugenie traveled to Great Britain for a final time in 1897. They married each other in Wales and stayed along the coast where Sisley executed nearly 20 paintings. In October, they returned to France. Eugenie died several months later, and Albert Sisley followed her to the grave in January 1899. To assist with the financial needs of the children Sisley left behind, his good friend Claude Monet arranged an auction of the artists paintings in May 1899. View of Fontainebleau Wood (1885). Mondadori Portfolio / Getty Images Legacy Alfred Sisley received little acclaim during his lifetime. However, he was one of the founding artists of French impressionism. His early paintings provide a link between the neo-impressionistic works of artists such as Edouard Manet, and key impressionists such as Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, both good friends of Alfred Sisley. Some also see Sisley as a rightful predecessor to the work with light and color in the paintings of Paul Cezanne. Source Shone, Richard. Sisley. Harry N. Abrams, 1992.