For a character in a story or a novel itself, to become a literary classic, it must first encompass within itself a theme, an idea that transpires and transcends through the ages, never wilting or loosing stature as time flies by. Kennedy had diplomacy, Martin Luther had equality, and similarly in literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby had the American dream. For in The Great Gatsby there is a great exploration of this theme revolving around one central character, Jay Gatsby, who to this day, still speaks for today's America. Gatsby still speaks for today's America because he still embodies the American dream, for although not as reckless and prodigal as the Jazz Age' of the 1920's, today's America still holds the same core beliefs in that one must strive through self-invention, strive for wealth and power, and keep a dream alive despite the chaos and cruelties that is evident in the world. Fitzgerald illustrates these traits through his intricate use of setting, point-of-view, and writing style.
America has been a zealous follower of self-invention, individualism, which is one of the main traits of Gatsby. Gatsby represents the American idealist, he is, like millions of Americans, a person who realized what he wanted to become, and spent his whole life chasing his goal "his dream. For, "in the great American tradition of self-invention, Gatsby decided at an early age precisely who he wanted to be- (Cohen). This is evident in the daily schedule Gatsby's father found in one of Gatsby's old books, it showed that Gatsby was "a fervent believer in the gospel of self-improvement,"" he decided what he wanted to become and orchestrated his rise (Cohen). This spirit of self-invention is one of the core themes in the American dream, and it is Gatsby's willingness to pursue his goal, by whatever means necessary, that ultimately saves him "the reason why Nick admires Gatsby.