Comparative Essay Sample: Dream in The Great Gatsby and A Raisin in the Sun

Accomplishing a dream may seem in reach, but in reality, it may become challenging once you feel like you are getting closer to executing it. Yet, it can be even harder to obtain this goal, depending on the dreamer's attitude and who they surround themselves with. In "The Great Gatsby," Gatsby is a wealthy man that has risen from nothing. Gatsby has come to all this wealth in the hopes of fulfilling the dream of getting Daisy. Meanwhile, in "A Raisin in the Sun," the Younger family is living in a cramped apartment with little money, all dreaming about having a place where they can live comfortably with their loved ones. Hansberry and Fitzgerald portray the common lesson that by obtaining an optimistic attitude and the want to achieve a goal, a dream can become a reality. 

Hansberry expresses that negative views can destroy dreams and push goals further away. Beneatha is getting upset and angry about Walter's decisions, which affected the whole family. All of these emotions cause Beneatha to only take into account the negatives, as she sees her dream, as well as everyone else's goals falling through. Beneatha is talking to Mama about Walter when Mama responds with, “There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing. [looking at her] Have you cried for that boy today? I don't mean for yourself and for the family ‘cause we lost the money. l mean for him; what he been through and what it done to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most; when they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain't through learning because that ain't the time at all. lt's when he's at his lowest and can‘t believe in hisself 'cause the world done whipped him so. When you start measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is” (Hansberry 56). Beneatha upsets Mama when she talks about Walter in negative ways. In this case, Walter had just given up on a dream and Beneatha was angry because she saw a dream walk out the door. In addition, Walter is at his lowest point in this specific scene, and Beneatha is just adding to the disappointment that is falling on him. Mama is using this scene as a teaching moment for Beneatha, she wants Bennie to think about Walter's high moments, where he has helped his family and himself. Mama in the same scene, states that a negative attitude just pushes the dream further away. 

Fitzgerald reinforces the lesson of having a hopeful mindset and the passion for completing a goal. The view on positivity is evident through one person's perspective on Gatsby's life. Gatsby was killed, bringing about Gatsby's father, who has come to Long Island for the funeral. Gatsby's father had only seen Gatsby a few times since becoming so wealthy. Mr. Gatz states, "‘Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some re-solves like this or something. Do you notice what he’s got about improving his mind? He was always great for that. He told me I et like a hog once and I beat him for it’ (Fitzgerald 185). Gatsby's father saw him before his wealth, and he saw a man that wanted to push himself by enhancing his mind. Gatsby had a goal to reach Daisy's attention, and he worked with an optimistic attitude, mainly to achieve this dream. Nick also spoke about Gatsby's mindset of looking to be a better self than the day before. Nick states, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.  It eluded us then,  but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning—— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past"' (Fitzgerald 193). Nick brings across the valuable idea of Gatsby pushing himself. Revealing a man who wants to be a better person than the day before. Gatsby experienced negatives, but just put them in the past and moved on. 

"The Great Gatsby" and "A Raisin in the Sun" help bring through the common idea of an American Dream. Although, this picture of the American Dream varies from story to story. On one side there is Gatsby, who illustrated his dreams on wealth. On the other hand, the Younger's show the dream of raising a family, hoping to keep everyone happy at home. Both authors shared the common idea of obtaining an optimistic attitude to reach a dream.