The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, begins with the narrator of the story Nick Carraway during the Jazz Age of the post-war 1920’s in America. Nick resides on the West Egg with “new” money, while his cousin Daisy Buchanan and her husband Tom live on the East Egg, with established families and homeowners. Also living on West Egg, in a grand mansion next door, is the mysterious Mr. Jay Gatsby. Nick mentions Gatsby’s mysterious actions, such as walking to the end of the dock and almost seeming to be reach out to a mysterious green light on the other side of the bay or his elaborate weekend parties. When Nick is invited to the Buchanan house, he finds out that things are not going well between Daisy and Tom. All of their proper upbringing …show more content…
Gatsby had been honest and shared that he was the son of dirt-poor farmers living in North Dakota. Even at a young age, James Gatz knew that there had to be more for him somewhere and that he was destined to be “great”. So, when he was older, he ventured off into the world with a new purpose and a new name, Jay Gatsby. He was educated and mentored by a wealthy man named Dan Cody. Part of the great future Gatsby wanted for himself was to be with Daisy always. However, he expected too much of her—he wanted her to tell Tom that she never loved him and truly loved Gatsby. Daisy belonged to another life, another society of people, that Gatsby was not a part of and could never be. Daisy was not willing enough to sacrifice everything she had ever known for Gatsby. In an ironic tragedy, Gatsby’s car hits and kills Tom’s mistress Myrtle Wilson. Gatsby reveals the truth to Nick that Daisy was at the wheel but that no one must know and that he will take the blame to his death. Ultimately, Gatsby does. An enraged George Wilson vows to avenge his wife’s death and tracks down Gatsby’s car, where he shoots Gatsby, as well as himself. Nick prepares a funeral and invites all the numerous partygoers and of course, Daisy, to the ceremony. Gossip and rumors prevail and Jay Gatsby is portrayed as a deceitful and dangerous criminal who had been fooling around with Myrtle Wilson and received his just consequences. Sadly, no one would ever know that …show more content…
Love triangles in novels will always be a popular topic and The Great Gatsby has an intense triangle of characters each reaching for something they can’t or shouldn’t have. Jay Gatsby is in love with the Daisy of years ago and can’t shake the dream of what life could be with her. Daisy loves the romantic gestures and devotion that Gatsby shows her, but also loves the rewards she receives from being Tom Buchanan’s wife. Tom loves that Daisy belongs to him and he will not give this prize up without a fight. Another strength of the book is in the portrayal of Jay Gatsby’s completing changing his life’s direction. Gatsby should have ended up a poor farmer like his father. He has no connections, no money, and no education, but Gatsby has a plan. When the opportunity comes, Gatsby seizes every opportunity to improve himself and make himself worthy of