The Great Gatsby , by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a devastating analysis of the foul dust that floats in the wake of the American Dream. The ruthless pursuit of this ideal from the lowliest worker to the highest aristocrat leaves a pungent trail of ruin and corruption. The progression of the novel witnesses this path manifested in the destruction of reputation, adverse effects on the individual, social division and also the loss of moral rectitude.
Destruction of reputation is an after effect of the quest for the American Dream, constantly and consistently situations are brought to the attention of the reader where the standing and reputation of characters is traduced. Gatsby's relentless and singular goal of the dream has left him the regular topic of conversation among the inhabitants of Long Island. Prior to Nick even meeting Gatsby he is told "truths" that are absurd at best: "Well, they say he's a nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm's. That's where all his money comes from." …
