Since Americans gained their independence to form a nation, they have aspired to create higher standards of living by improving themselves as individuals and as a whole society. This is affectionately called ‘The American Dream’; it is ‘the ability to be whatever one wishes to be’, as many patriotic Americans may explain. At times a group or society may set goals. These goals are different to the ‘American Dream’, because the ‘American Dream’ is a personal aspiration instead of a group commitment or obligation. Whether or not the American Dream is attained is dependent on an individual’s own actions and desires. Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby shows that the American Dream can only be attained by those who pursue it in a realistic manner and plan well. Gatsby has achieved in life what most would consider to be ‘The American Dream”, because he stuck to his goals and became wealthy after serving his country in war as “’Major Jay Gatsby’” (67). However, instead of feeling fulfilled by all that he has accomplished, Gatsby feels that he is “far away from [Daisy]” (109). His sense of dissatisfaction is shown by his wanderings “among strangers because [he drifts] here and there trying to forget [Daisy,] the sad thing that happened to [him]” (67). Nothing else matters to Gatsby, other than being with Daisy; although Gatsby has achieved a satisfactory reputation in New York, it means nothing to him if he can’t have Daisy. His dissatisfaction with his life shows that Gatsby has not genuinely achieved ‘The American Dream’. After Gatsby was no longer a Major in the war, he started drawing out a new life; however, he did not have a foolproof plan for reuniting with Daisy. Instead of planning out his own reunion with her, he relied on Nick to “invite her to tea” (79). This reunion may have dulled the spark that Daisy had for Gatsby. The fact that “Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, h