The Great Gatsby- Jay Gatsby V Essay - 612 Words

Jay Gatsby, the title character of The Great Gatsby, is really not all that the title might suggest. First of all, his real name is James Gatz. He changed it in an effort to leave behind his old life as a poor boy and create an entirely new identity. He is also a liar and a criminal, having accumulated his wealth and position by dishonest means. But he is still called ‘great,’ and in a sense he is. Gatsby is made great by his unfaltering hope, and his determination to live in a perfect world with Daisy and their perfect love. Gatsby has many visible flaws—his obvious lies, his mysterious way of avoiding straight answers. But they are shadowed over by his gentle smile and his visible hunger for an ideal future. The coarse and playful Jay†¦show more content†¦Gatsby is a dreamer, he lives for and in his dreams. But his amazing ability to focus on and achieve his dreams makes him great. Nick Carraway describes himself in the first chapter as reserved in judgement and tolerant of other people, even when subjected to their unwanted and boring secret confessions. He is indeed more tolerant than most, and holds judgement even when faced with huge and unmistakable character flaws. For instance, he makes no solid judgement on Tom Buchanan when he sees him openly displaying his extramarital affair with Myrtle and holding no shame or guilt about cheating on Daisy. His unwillingness to criticize leads to his having double feelings about several characters, because he see their faults but wants to keep an open mind. He is especially reserved in holding judgement against Gatsby, which causes him to go so far as to create a sort of blind spot towards him. He criticizes Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and luxury, and is very aware of his criminal behavior, yet he sees more in Gatsby the man who would do anything for his love and worked towards his dreams all his life. Nick is still, however, an honest and good man. He is not extravagantly rich, but unlike Gatsby he earned all of his high social connections fairly. He is rather disgusted with the East and it’s empty values by the end of the book. But he is still intrigued by it all, as he demonstrates through his relationship with Jordan Baker. He holds an almost subconsciousShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Great Gatsby Research Report1248 Words   |  5 Pagesembraced his newly minted celebrity status and embarked on an extravagant lifestyle that earned him a reputation as a playboy and hindered his reputation as a serious literary writer†(F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography 2). The parties thrown by Jay in The Great Gatsby reflect Fitzgerald’s extravagant lifestyle. Excessive amounts of drinking, large crowds, parties lasting long into the night all took place at one point during Fitzgerald’s life. â€Å"F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, were guilty of manyRead MoreAf fairs, Nick, and Gatsby in Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby1255 Words   |  6 PagesNick is the narrative reader in The Great Gatsby. Gatz was a poor person that changes his name to Gatsby. Tom was a cheater and was unfaithful to Daisy. Daisy was a flirt and rich. Myrtle is a poor women that lived over her and her husband’s garage shop. Myrtle would let Tom push her around because he was a rich man that would let Myrtle forget that she was poor. â€Å"She never loved you, do you hear he cried. She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me (FitzgeraldRead MoreHow the Charcters in the Great Gatsby Viewed Jay Gatsby1643 Words   |  7 Pagesthinks of Gatsby as a â€Å"home wrecker† and a criminal. He cannot see any of Gatby’s virtues, but rather focuses on and exaggerates his questionable behavior (pursuing Daisy and bootlegging). 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New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print. II. Character List Nick Carraway †¢ Narrator of the novel †¢ Moved to New York to learn the bond business †¢ Facilitates the romance between his cousin Daisy and his friend Gatsby †¢ Honest, Inclined to reserve judgment, unbiased Jay Gatsby †¢ Protagonist of the novel †¢ Changed his name from James Gatz when he devoted his life to becomingRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby Essay1009 Words   |  5 Pagesnovel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, many of the characters live in an illusory world and only some can see past this. In the novel, West Egg and its residents represent the newly rich, while East Egg represents the old aristocracy. Gatsby seeking the past, Daisy is obsessed with material things, Myrtle wanting Tom to escape her poverty, George believing that T.J. Eckleburg is God, and Tom believing he is untouchable because of his power and wealth are all examples of the illusion v. realityRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1262 Words   |  6 PagesChris Molina Ms. Hunt English 3 5th period 17 March 2015 Outline I. Hook: Everyone wants happiness and success. Thesis Statement: In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author uses Jay Gatsby to demonstrate the themes of friendship and the American dream. II. Historical Context Topic Sentence #1: The novel was written in the Roaring twenties, when the economy was at its peak. A. Supporting Detail: â€Å"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then