Jay-Gatz and Tony Montana, The American Dream

This idea of the "American Dream," or the belief that anyone can make it to the top, has truth to it. However, both Gatsby and Tony have their own interpretation of this dream. The idea that America is the land of opportunity encourages many to work as hard as they can so that they might gain material wealth.  There are countless similarities between Jay-Gatz in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" and Tony Montana in the movie "Scar Face." Both start  as poor yet very determined men set on making it to the top no matter what.  Tony came to the U.S. in May of 1980 from Cuba after Fidel Castro opened the harbors in order to let many of his people join their relatives in the U.S.; however, many of the refugees, like Tony, were the "dregs" of Cuba's jails.  Facts scrolled across the screen at the beginning of the movie note that out of the 125,000 refugees, 25,000 had criminal records.  Gatsby was also from humble beginnings.  Gatsby starts off with "a torn green jersey and a pair of canvas pants" (98).  However, despite both men's less than fortunate beginnings, they climb the criminal ladder and achieve their own version of the "American dream."

After achieving success, both men are determined to show off their wealth.  This gaudy extravagance, and in many cases tasteless display of wealth, is a very "new rich" thing to do.  Gatsby has "a man in England who buys [him] clothes" and Tony wears "$800 suits" (92).  However, their display of success does not stop there.  They have overly accessorized cars to the point of being tacky, throw lavish parties and live in large gaudy mansions.  

  Tony's Cadillac                                                        Gatsby's Roll's Royce 

Fitzgerald never says if Gatsby is a bootlegger, but the reader can assume that he is.  The idea that Gatsby is involved in a shady business is referenced throughout the book.  He is always stepping away for important business calls, offers Tom a questionable business opportunity, hangs out with people who are said to have "fixed" the World Series, and says it took only 3 years for him to make the money to build his "hotel de-ville."  Furthermore, the idea that Gatsby is a bootlegger is also brought up by Tom when he says, "A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers" (107).  Tony, like Gatsby, gains his wealth illegally as one of the largest cocaine dealers in Miami.  This criminal acquisition of the "American dream"makes it appear much less legitimate to those around Gatsby and Tony.

Fitzgerald is making a point about the American Dream and its corruptness in his book, "The Great Gatsby," similarly to the way Brian De Palma and Oliver Stone are making points about the American Dream in their movie "Scar Face."  Both pieces illustrate how the authors believe there is a right way and a wrong way of achieving the American Dream and that the "wrong" way or criminal way never pays in the end.  The wealth gained through criminal enterprise does not gain the respect of others and this point is demonstrated when both Gatsby and Tony end up dead in their pools after their corrupt version of the American Dream has crumpled around them.  Fitzgerald, De Palma and Stone make it a point to have Tony's wife leave him and for Daisy to leave Gatsby, as well as leaving their once elegant homes in shambles.  Although Gatsby and Tony believe they have made it to the top and achieved the American Dream, in reality they did nothing and are still nothing.