American illusions in The Great GatsbyThe American dream. Every American has their own ideals and preferences, but all share more or less the same dream. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald explores what happens when this dream goes too far. What to do when the dream begins to eclipse reality? What are the consequences when a successful man allows the dream to be more important than life itself? Fitzgerald tells it all through the desperate Gatsby, the idealistic Nick, and the ignorant Myrtle. Mansions, cars, jewelry and extravagant parties - what more could a person want? Gatsby had everything, but he was still empty inside, wanting more. All of Gatsby's riches mean nothing without his true love, Daisy. Gatsby strived to succeed for the sole purpose of winning Daisy's heart. However, Gatsby's dream is an unattainable and hopeless dream because he can never win her love. Daisy and Gatsby live only miles apart, but their relationship is very distant, as Daisy is already attached. Gatsby pursues “a transcendent meaning outside of society and beyond the notoriety of history” (Lynn 180). Gatsby dreams of the "American Dream" that anything is possible, but his tragic flaw is that he lives in the past and cannot see the destructive future that awaits him. Gatsby says, “I'll fix everything like before,... She'll see,” and he doesn't realize that he can't do it like before (Fitzgerald 114). When Gatsby gets the chance to prove himself to Daisy, it is already too late. According to Fitzgerald, “the whole caravan had collapsed like a house of cards at the disapproval in his eyes” (Fitzgerald 114). Gatsby's downfall lies in his inability to determine the fine line that divides reality and illusion in his life. The green light at the end of Daisy's platform shines for Gatsby, but Gatsby doesn't realize that he will never be able to catch the light. He continues to dream blindly. This is evident when Nick tells Gatsby that he can't relive the past and Gatsby replies, "Of course you can, old sport!" (Fitzgerald 116). Gatsby's dream of capturing Daisy's love is based on a fantasy of romance, but the truth is that Daisy is already taken and no amount of money or popularity can change that..