American illusions in The Great GatsbyThe American Dream. Every American has their own ideals and preferences, but they all share more or less the same dream. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald explores what happens when this dream is taken too far. What to do when the dream begins to obscure reality? What are the consequences when a successful man allows his dream to count for more than life itself? Fitzgerald tells everything through the desperate Gatsby, the idealistic Nick and the ignorant Myrtle. Palaces, cars, jewels and extravagant parties - what more could you want? Gatsby had it all, yet he was still empty inside and wanting more. All the riches Gatsby possesses mean nothing without his great love, Daisy. Gatsby tried to succeed with the sole purpose of capturing Daisy's heart. However, Gatsby's dream is unattainable and hopeless because he can never win her love. Daisy and Gatsby live a few miles apart, but their relationship is centuries apart, as Daisy is already bonded. Gatsby pursues “transcendent meaning outside of society and beyond the notability of history” (Lynn 180). Gatsby is dreaming "the American dream" that anything is possible, but the tragic flaw within him is that he lives in the past and cannot see the destructive future that awaits him. Gatsby says, “I will make it all right as it was before…she will see” and does not realize that he cannot make it as it was before (Fitzgerald 114). By the time Gatsby has the chance to prove himself to Daisy, it is already too late. According to Fitzgerald, “the whole caravansay had fallen like a house of cards before the disapproval in his eyes” (Fitzgerald 114). Gatsby's downfall is that he is unable to determine the thin line that divides reality and illusion in his life. The green light at the end of Daisy's dock shines for Gatsby, but Gatsby doesn't realize that he can never catch the light. Keep dreaming blindly. This is evident when Nick tells Gatsby that he cannot relive the past and Gatsby replies, "Why of course you can, old boy!" (Fitzgerald 116). Gatsby's dream of winning Daisy's love is based on a romantic fantasy, but the truth is that Daisy is already busy and no amount of money or popularity can change that..