Fitzgerald seems to view the American Dream as the ability of any individual to begin life with little or nothing and, through honest hard work and perseverance, that person can achieve personal and financial success. Effort will allow the individual to attain prosperity and happiness, whatever will bring them that happiness. I don't feel anything is missing from such a definition, especially in light of the book's exploration of the dream: George Wilson wants enough money to be able to move himself and his wife out west, where he thinks they can be happy together again; he wants to provide for her, and he wants her respect. He is denied all three. Jay Gatsby wants to earn enough money and achieve the same status as Daisy Buchanan so he can win her back from her hateful husband, Tom. While he is able to come up with the money to get her attention, he only did so by turning to criminal activities. Furthermore, changing his status is simply impossible.
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