Meyer Wolfsheim is a character known for his shady dealings and connections to organized crime. He is described as a Jewish mobster who is involved in various illegal activities, including fixing the 1919 World Series. Wolfsheim is also notable for his distinctive appearance, often wearing a pink suit and having a pair of human molars as cufflinks, which adds to his eccentric and somewhat sinister persona. He is a close associate of Gatsby, representing the darker side of the American Dream and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve wealth and status. Wolfsheim’s character highlights themes of corruption and moral ambiguity, as he operates in a world where legality and ethics often blur. His presence in the novel serves to illustrate the connections between wealth, crime, and the pursuit of success during the Roaring Twenties.

Meyer Wolfsheim embodies a distorted version of the American Dream. While the American Dream traditionally represents the idea that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination, Wolfsheim’s success comes from illegal activities and moral corruption. He is wealthy and influential, but his wealth is built on crime, such as fixing the World Series, which reveals the darker side of ambition and the lengths some will go to attain their dreams. Wolfsheim’s character highlights how the pursuit of wealth can lead to unethical choices and a life of crime, contrasting sharply with the idealistic vision of the American Dream. His association with Gatsby also illustrates how the pursuit of success can entangle individuals in morally ambiguous relationships, further complicating the notion of achieving the American Dream.