The Feeling of the American Dream The American Dream has been a quintessential part of the American experience since the founding of its independence in 1776. People migrated from near and far to test how it would go well in the new world. Over the years, this conundrum evolved until it reached its final form in the 1920s: America's legendary jazz age. This was where the average American had high hopes of doing something. It was a time of happiness when one wanted to live a luxurious life, and during this time, luxurious life briefly became available to those who were brave enough to pursue it. Now, the American Dream still exists in much of its former form, but the end goal has become increasingly important. In this novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes a story of loss and tragedy wrapped up in the broader concept of the American dream. Focusing on Gatsby, one can see a person who seems to have achieved that desperate American dream in a "rags to riches" type scenario. He was born into a poor family, and after tasting the luxurious life with Dan Cody, he sought to change his status permanently. He did what every daredevil, thrill-seeker or adventurous entrepreneur did to gain wealth at the time: bootlegged liquor for profit. Whether through courage or stupidity, he was an instant success, earned millions, and could afford almost anything his heart desired. His covered-up backstory that is revealed to Nick, the main protagonist, was about a story of how he seemed to emerge as one of the seemingly lucky few who fell into the money after a supposed tragedy. Gatsbyby was living his normal life when out of nowhere "'all my family died and I made a nice sum of money'" (Fitzgerald 65). He tried to counteract his wealth with a stroke of luck, when in reality it was through his carefully organized and strategic alcohol smuggling that he gained his vast amount of wealth and wealth. He was able to achieve what many considered the American dream – luxury, fame and a lavish lifestyle – through risk and strategy. Making the dream come true, however, is not so easy today. It takes a lot more than a certain amount of organized crime to afford the lifestyle led by Gatsby and many other non-fictional people in The Roarers