ds to become clients of his. Stanley Lebergott of Wesleyan University explains in the book, Americans: An Economic Record, the distribution of wealth in the 1920s. Those in the upper 5 percent of the income distribution increased their share of the national income. Labor’s share of the national income did not rise at all, and workers suffered from unemployment. By implication, then, the decade differed little from earlier ones (431). This shows why George Wilson and others like him remain in a slump and do not prosper in business, whereas people like Tom Buchanan, have an increase in their yearly earnings. It almost seems that the statement; “hard work does not always equal success” was a false statement in the 20’s. If a person only looks at the top five percent of the income bracket, they may be right. However, if a person were to look at the other ninety-five percent, this person would see that the statement is true. The only way anyone made money in the ‘20s was by participating in “speakeasies” or by “bootlegging” and both were illegal. Another distortion of the American Dream in the novel is through marriage. Generally, when people get married it is because they love one another, but in The Great Gatsby, the upper class’s weddings are mainly for social purposes. In the upper class, weddings are similar to how high school seniors’ pair up for prom, they make sure the Prom King and Prom Queen attend the Prom as a couple. Seen as the “perfect” couple, these two people compliment each other in every way. In the novel, when Nick Caraway is visiting his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom Buchanan, it is obvious that they are not truly in love but they are married because their social standings make them perfect for one another. While Nick is visiting, Daisy and Tom invite him to stay for dinner. While dinner is going on, Tom receives a telephone call. Daisy know...
