Hamartia: a phrase coined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle suggests that the downfall a literary hero is brought on by their own flaws and misjudgments. In The Great Gatsby, a novel that critiques the lives of 1920s American aristocrats, a hamartia greatly impacts the character arc of the book’s main focus, Jay Gatsby. For Achilles, it was his heel, and for Prometheus his kindness, but what is the fatal flaw of modern heroes, like Gatsby? The fatal flaw of Jay Gatsby is his idealism. Gatsby’s idealism leads him to be detached from the present reality. Throughout the novel, he is obsessive about his past with Daisy and believes it’s possible to return to the way things were. When Nick points out the fallacies in Gatsby’s thinking, Gatsby …show more content…
In his mind, Daisy was the only person for Gatsby because he regarded her as a perfect, larger-than-life woman. In turn, Gatsby does two things that ultimately lead to his downfall: using any means necessary to obtain Daisy’s attention and refusing to accept that Daisy is not as flawless as he believes. When Gatsby’s idolization of Daisy began, he was still extremely poor and didn’t have the social status that Daisy valued. As a result, he involves himself in the illegal distribution of alcohol to grow his fortune and material possessions that could appeal to Daisy. Likewise, Gatsby throws lavish parties that put his wealth on display, all in hopes that Daisy might take notice (Fitzgerald, 2004). Another part of Gatsby’s hamartia is displayed in the way he views Daisy as flawless. Those who think in the way that Gatsby often embellish their memories of someone and omit details that do not fit the narrative they have built (Lieberman, 2021). For the duration of the novel, Daisy’s imperfections are revealed, such as her materialism and carelessness. During her most prominent display of these faults, Daisy drives recklessly through the streets of New York and strikes Myrtle Wilson, killing her. However, Gatsby still preserves his pure and rose-colored mental image of Daisy. He even goes as far as to hide her crimes because of his refusal to view Daisy through a realistic lens. The death of Gatsby is