The Character Of Jay Gatsby Essay Example

for hope and a romantic readiness that surpasses all others. This attribute is embodied by the green light at the end of the Buchanan's dock, which immediately captures Nick's attention. Gatsby's persistence, even to the point of aggressiveness as he proclaims, "'I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before. She'll see,'" reveals his unwavering dedication to reuniting with Daisy, driven by his strong passion and desire for material possessions.

Despite claiming to have attended Oxford University, Jay Gatsby had only fantasized about going there. His desire to win back Daisy's love led him to create a new persona that he believed would appeal to her. He altered himself to fit the mold of the ideal partner for her. This illustrates the societal tendency towards progress and innovation, favoring newness over tradition and old ways. Gatsby's attempt to erase five years of their relationship and start fresh is in keeping with this preference.

Gatsby desperately tries to change his past, but ironically it holds something he longs for: his time with Daisy. However, his accumulation of money and possessions and his quest for acceptance are what ultimately cause his vision of the American Dream to crumble. Gatsby believes that money and material possessions are the only way to achieve his dream, but this fails to win Daisy over, as she already has wealth and possessions. This theme of self-promotion, reinvention, and eventual self-destruction was common in 1920s society, exemplified by Gatsby. The idea of reinvention is present in multiple aspects, particularly in the theme of place.

By relocating from the West to the East, Gatsby altered his lifestyle from tradition to progression, ultimately transforming his

character via intricate deceit. The significance of setting in the novel is underscored by Gatsby's move, which demonstrates the difference between West egg's conventional existence and East egg's more forward-thinking way of life.

Fitzgerald associates the original American dream with the West, but Gatsby's downfall in the East suggests that the dream cannot survive in the changing modern world of that region. Gatsby's death metaphorically represents the death of the dream in the East. After Gatsby dies, Nick departs from the East, realizing that accepting the past is crucial for moving towards the future, a lesson Gatsby failed to learn. Gatsby's parties, where guests would drink and party until morning, overpowered his personality, making him a mere observer of his own events. This highlights the concept of self-promotion.

Gatsby's lavish parties serve as a strategic tool for promoting his image to both the upper echelon of society and his love interest, Daisy. While many attendees have little knowledge of their host and engage in unstimulating conversations centered around gossiping about the lavish parties, they attend purely for the sake of being mentioned in local newspapers. These "pulp less halves" and empty guests appear void of any substance, intrigued solely by wealth and image. Interestingly, although crates of oranges and lemons arrive at Gatsby's mansion weekly from a New York fruitier, the same fruits depart from his backdoor every Monday as a heap of pulp less halves. Ironically, it can be claimed that these partygoers were never truly "full," despite the abundance of extravagant refreshments at their disposal.

At the start of chapter four, Nick lists the attendees of one of Gatsby's parties. The list contains detailed descriptions

of the guests, with some being referred to as "bums and drunks." Although the parties are elaborate and crowded, they are ultimately lacking in substance. None of the guests have Gatsby's drive to achieve their desires.

There is no time for individuals sitting at a table to pursue happiness. It could be argued that Gatsby is the only fool of society because others simply drift without possessing his blissful ignorance. The way in which money is made represents a key corruption of Jay Gatsby and the American dream. He makes his fortune through illegal alcohol sales, despite their prohibition in America during the 1920s. With this fortune, he creates an idealized image as a member of the upper class by surrounding himself with beauty such as a mansion, distinguished suits, and a luxurious automobile.

Gatsby's mansion was purchased to impress Daisy and became a manifestation of his superficiality - a corrupt attempt to win her love. The house became intertwined with Gatsby's identity and contributed to the downfall of his American dream. Despite filling his home and parties with superficial guests, Gatsby kept real books and antique ornaments. These guests were astonished by the authenticity of the books, with one commenting to Jordan and Nick, "I truly believed they were cardboard."

The theme of 'idealistic vs. materialistic' runs through the novel, as illustrated by a guest who would have preferred the books to be unreal, given the superficiality that puts some people at ease. During his parties, Gatsby invites guests who share this sentiment, but the items he surrounds himself with on a daily basis are antique and tangible. Despite the lavish decor of other rooms 'swathed

in rose and lavender silk and vivid with new flowers', Gatsby's bedroom remains empty of such material items. This conflict between the idealistic and materialistic aspects of life is a recurring struggle for Gatsby.

Using materialism, Gatsby seeks to reach his idealistic aspirations, as evidenced by his effort to win over Daisy with his wealth and possessions. Some may consider this to be a corrupt lifestyle, but Gatsby's character demonstrates that it signifies the extent of his determination to attain his deepest desires. Fitzgerald emphasizes that our hopes and dreams provide purpose and significance to all our endeavors. Pursuing an ideal is the means by which a person can establish their identity.

Despite the inevitability of failure of hopes and dreams, including the American dream itself, Gatsby's remarkable gift of hope allows him to maintain his idealism and attain a level of almost "heroic greatness". By pursuing the unattainable American Dream, Gatsby earns his grandiose reputation. While his deceptive self-transformation could be seen as corrupt, it instead exposes the corrupt society in which he lives. The Great Gatsby effectively portrays the corruption of the American dream in a society that became increasingly immoral in the 1920s, marked by hedonistic values. Ultimately, Jay Gatsby is the only character whose true personality remains intact throughout the novel.

An exceptional individual, identified by his distinct personality and appreciation for aesthetics, is exemplified by Gatsby. His yearning for Daisy's affection portrays the concept of love as pure, however, in Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby', it is depicted as tainted and perilous. Corresponding to the theme of toxic love, a tragic irony can be observed in Gatsby's adoration of beauty. This passion ultimately

leads to his demise, as his exquisite car, which Daisy was operating, played a significant role in his untimely death. ("He saw me looking at it in admiration.")

Myrtle Wilson's death was caused by the combination of Gatsby's two beautiful possessions. This led to a series of corrupt events that resulted in Gatsby's brutal murder. Despite this, Gatsby's sacrifice to protect Daisy showcases his great personality and eye for beauty, making him a worthy recipient of the title "Great" in Fitzgerald's novel.

Despite Gatsby's dream being revealed as worthless and Daisy being deemed unworthy of his sacrifice, our admiration for his character remains high, as Nick states that he is more valuable than any other member of the society that ruled the 1920s.