When America first became populated, people started to envision a life of hope and dreams. These dreams were further developed into ways of life. Later these idealistic fantasies were overpowered by reality. These dreams and hopes became known as the American Dream. The American Dream varies from individual to individual, though it seems to have evolved throughout the ages. It began with common themes of freedom, happiness, justice, and equality. Later it dwindled to money, power, and success, which led to the focus of material things. Through the investigation and exploration of three novels, The Great Gatsby, Native Son, and Death of a Salesman, the American Dream appears not only to have changed, but also to have been corrupted.

One of the main characters of The Great Gatsby, Nick, witnesses the decline of the American Dream as the love between his two friends is thwarted. In order to...