A Raisin In The Sun And The Great Gatsby Analysis - 841 Words

The American dream can be completely different for two people depending on their financial status and beliefs. The story The Great Gatsby is about a man that started with a humble background who then became an extremely wealthy business owner that needed money to attract a woman named Daisy. â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† is about a black family that was not wealthy, but received a check that was split among the family members. Due to the endings of both texts, they show that money is not important to attaining the American dream. Mama, from the text â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, did not value money, yet reached her American dream. â€Å"Some of it got to be put away for Beneatha and he Schoolin’... maybe we could meet the notes on a little old two story†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Gatsby had a humble past, but would lie about his past in order to show how great he was. Gatsby said he fought in World War 1 and was an Oxford student for a few years in an attem pt to show Daisy that he did a lot in his past and was not truly a poor man† (Fitzgerald, 1925). Gatsby has created a false image of himself in order to regain Daisy’s interest in him. He has put so much value on money that he has to lie and illegally make money. Gatsby believed that becoming wealthy would lead him to his American dream of getting Daisy’s love and did not achieve it because he put too much focus on money instead of thinking about how Daisy feels now. Mama and Gatsby have completely different viewpoints on money and the American dream. Mama uses her money to support herself and her family while Gatsby uses his money to attract Daisy. â€Å"When the world gets ugly enough - a woman will do anything for her family† (Hansberry, 1958, pg 8). This quote shows how Mama will do anything for her family even if she has to lose all of her money, her family the most important to her. Gatsby’s ambition was to get enough money to entice Daisy int o loving him. â€Å"Gatsby went through difficult times and has done illegal acts in order to achieve Daisy’s love† (Fitzgerald, 1925). Illegally selling alcohol and lying about his past shows his value for money was most important in achieving his