Truth of the American Dream The American Dream is something that has been epically constructed in the media and in the thoughts of every single American. For some the American dream is the pursuit of happiness, for others the superficiality of wealth. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and in the film Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen, based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The characters don't live up to their vision of the American dream. One of the characters who doesn't live up to the American dream is Tom Buchanan. Tom is a rich and powerful man, and much more. He is a very superficial silver person with few moral values. Which ultimately leaves him with a truly uncontrollable life. “His wife and mistress, safe and inviolate until an hour ago, were spiraling precipitously out of his control.” (Fitzgerald 131). According to Colin laPenta wealth and power can turn a person into a sacred shell of themselves "Arrogance and hapless quality that are often associated with people of power and wealth and Tom Buchanan is no exception." (La Penta). Furthermore, Tom Never truly cared about the well-being of his fellow man while he is safe in his mansion. Furthermore, explained by Matthew Bruccoli "Although it is difficult to choose just one character flaw of Tom Buchanan, the most prevalent is his cruelty, he believes that money and power give him the ability to bully others" (Bruccoli). Another character who does not live up to the American dream and his own personal dream is Jay Gatsby. Gatsby does not achieve his dreams because he is trying not to look into the future, but instead alter the future to be similar to his past relationship with Daisy through wealth and power to be more like his new lover (Tom). "I can't repeat....... middle of paper....... Print." American Dream Definition in English:." American Dream: Definition of American Dream in the Oxford Dictionary (American English) (USA ) March 10, 2014. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925. Print.Gam, Karielle Stephanie Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, June 12, 2013. Web. March 4, 2014. Smith, Emily Esfahani. “The False Allure of Glamour.” New Criterion 32.4 (2013): 76-78 2014. "The Declaration of Independence: A Transcript." National Archives and Records Administration, Web. 07 March 2014. Witkoski, Michael. "The Great Gatsby." , revised edition (2006): 1-2. Literary Reference Center. 4 March. 2014.