Ben Eisenberg Mr. Foote English July 14, 2023 Gatsby’s Bad News It is a fundamental law of nature that things move from order to disordered states and that life deviates drastically from the goals one pursues. However, it is humanity who breaks the spontaneous flow of nature to make it something desirable. Machinery, for example, does this well; however, like machinery, getting what is wanted often is at the cost of taking what others have. So, if a person could change nature, is it morally acceptable that they do? In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it can be interpreted that the author believes this is immoral. Moreover, Gatsby, formerly known as Jay Gats, embodies the spirit of the American dream—opportunism, optimism, …show more content…
As mentioned in this essay, Gatbsy leveraged crime to amass his wealth. In addition, Gatsby has no respect for said laws, as seen through his characterization. For example, in Chapter 4, when Gatsby speeds through New York City and is pulled over by a cop, he "[takes] a white card from his wallet [and] he waves it before the man's eyes''(Fitzgerald, 54). Although it was not murder, Gatsby found no problem bribing the commissioner, allowing him to function above the law, stating, "I was able to do the commissioner a favor once"(Fitzgerald, 54). To emphasize this point, small trivialities often provide the most insight into one’s morality. Moreover, despite speeding being a small issue, Gatsby finds himself an exception to the law. Regarding his morals, this speeding ticket bribery makes it evident that he has the rules work for him, as he shows no guilt in breaking the law, nor does he show any question of being an expectation; rather, it is something he wanted—hence doing a favor. Another view that shines a light on Gatsby's immorality is Myrtle's death. It is true that good-hearted people stop and help during tragedy, yet Gatsby drove off after Myrtle's death. He also did not attend Myrtle's funeral. Furthermore, Gatsby's lack of presence shows his fractured moral compass. A man of good heart would instinctively pull over during the accident and pay respects during the funeral. Lastly, considering this paragraph and the other ones, it is most important to note that not once in the novel did Gatsby show due awareness and sorrow for his lies, crimes, and manipulation. This is best conveyed through Nick's internal dialogue, as he states, "I was within and without" (chapter 9, 140). This quote carries Gatsby's lack of awareness and sorrow because Nick says this upon reflection on his time on West Egg. Moreover,