The great Gatsby-- What is it to be successful in America?

Success in America and success are not the same thing.  Not at all.  Individual success comes from an individual perspective--ones goals and desires from themselves, for themselves-- while American success is rooted in societal expectations.  To succeed in America and to succeed are completely different destinations, and with that in mind, American success can be explored.  

In The Great Gatsby, many of the characters are successful based upon American standards (wealth, power and popularity).   Gatspy may be rich enough to throw elaborate parties with full orchestras that are "no thin five-piece affair" (40), yet lacks happiness.  The girl he always loved married Tom, leaving him alone in his "mansion" (5).  In fact, Gatsby may be the most successful person met thus far in the novel-- according to America-- yet is lonely and lacks personal success.

Tom and Daisy are also successful. Tom is born into a family of old wealth and Daisy is his lovely wife.  This is American success. But what isn't taken into account is the empty hateful marriage; the unfaithful husband with the self-hating wife; the massive house in West Egg that will never be a home; the gray midst all of the color.

No matter how wealthy you are, no matter how successful you are, no matter how large you party is, real, deeply rooted-- maybe the most American success of all-- is not bought.  Maybe this success that everyone truly desires isn't in "shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange" (92) but in your own and others' happiness.