The Pursuit Of Happiness

Essay by justin_6t9High School, 11th gradeA-, March 2008

download word file, 3 pages 4.3

Downloaded 120 times

In today's society, people spend their whole life searching for happiness. It can be argued that people will never find true happiness, because as humans, we don't know what it means to be truly happy. Many believe that achieving true happiness can only be done by achieving the American Dream first. However, once an individual achieves the American Dream, will he or she truly be happy? Is money happiness? Through characters Jay Gatsby from the novel "The Great Gatsby", and Christopher Gardner from the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness", true happiness will be compared and contrasted as it pertains to the American Dream and the two characters.

James Gatsby was man who had completed the first step in achieving the American Dream. He had money, lots of it. He also had an enormous house with a huge property. Unfortunately, he didn't achieve his money the good old "American way".

He didn't work honestly for his money. He was a bootlegger who used Drug Stores as a front to sell liquor. His motivation in making all this money was his only love Daisy. On the outside, Gatsby was living the life and there was nothing more a man could want in life. On the inside he was lonely, and the only thing he wanted, money couldn't buy. Although Gatsby's big mansion was flashy and impressed Daisy, she could never leave her husband. This goes to show that money can't buy you happiness.

Christopher Gardner is the complete opposite of Jay Gatsby. Here is a man who never had lady luck by his side in his life. He had to work hard and honestly for his money. There was no easy street for this man. He had a wife and son who he had to support. I believe Christopher...