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Materialism and Idealism in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a novel which deals with the quest for wealth and power in society, in order for Gatsby's happiness to be fulfilled . The main character Jay Gatsby believes that if he achieves his financial goals that it would lead to his happiness and a better life. In his mind money equals happiness. Jay Gatsby believes in a sort of an American dream, that money equals happiness. To him being successful, having lots of money and every material object imaginable will fulfill the entire American dream, and result in acquiring the woman he loves. The true American dream describes a way of living that is full of hope and faith for the future. It deals with the wishes and dreams of a person and it tends to be a story of rags to riches. The American dream relates to a desire for inner and material improvement. The Great Gatsby describes the decay of a proper American dream and how the want for money and power is overtaking the spiritual and inner happiness. The materialism in the novel is of more importance to the characters than idealism. Gatsby feels that the only way to achieve idealism is through materialism, he said, "She only married you because I was poor