Connection to The Great Gatsby

George Babbitt, similar to Gatsby and Nick, is from the Midwest. Both Gatsby and Babbitt seem to have achieved the American Dream, they both have material possessions, but they feel empty. This unhappiness leads to them fantasizing about being with a woman with whom they are happy; George dreams about a fairy and Gatsby dreams about his image of Daisy. Although they both think that being with this woman will fix their current situation, when they finally reach the woman, they are still unhappy. For Gatsby, he is still dissatisfied when Daisy doesn't say that she loved him. For Babbitt, his affair pleases him only until the emotional burden becomes to heavy. In both novels, there is a lack of religion; when asked George Wilson says he hasn't attended church since his marriage and Babbitt neither practices religion nor is familiar with the Bible. Finally there is a void in the social life. Babbitt, in addition to having a passionless marriage, doesn't enjoy his dinner parties. Tom also has a passionless marriage. Finally, Gatsby distances himself from the extravagant parties he throws.