Examples Of Narcissism In The Great Gatsby

To begin, Jay Gatsby displays narcissistic personality disorder. According to Mayo Clinic, “Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them” (1). Mayo Clinic is a world renowned organization that provides reliable research from medical doctors. Similarly, Cleveland Clinic is Ohio based and is comprised of medical offices. The research comes from reputable doctors who have gone through years of schooling. The article explains, “Healthcare providers diagnose NPD when you have at least five of the following characteristics: overinflated sense of self-importance, …need for excessive admiration,

The novel states, “We slowed down. Taking a white card from his wallet he waved it before the man’s eyes. ‘Right you are,’ agreed the policeman, tipping his cap. ‘Know you next time, Mr. Gatsby” (Fitzgerald 73-74). By showing the police his white card, Gatsby was able to get out of the consequences for speeding. He shows that he believes he is entitled to do as he pleases without having to face repercussions. Gatsby believes that he is better than the law and he should not have to obey its rules. This is the first instance where Gatsby demonstrates symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. Shortly after Daisy hits Myrtle while driving Gatsby’s car, Nick finds Gatsby outside the Buchanan’s home hiding in the bushes. Nick and Gatsby begin to have a conversation about Daisy and how she is going to take the blame for this whole accident. Gatsby tells Nick, “‘Of course she might have loved him, just for a minute, when they were first married—and loved me more even then, do you see?’” (Fitzgerald 162). Jay explains how he feels superior to Tom in the sense of Daisy’s love. He tells Nick that he has always been better than Tom and that Daisy has always loved him and not her

He believes that he and Daisy were meant for each other and that no one else deserves her love. He brags about how she never truly loved her husband and has always loved him more than she has ever loved anyone else. This demonstrates how he has a snobby attitude and a high ego. Finally, Gatsby utilizes Nick by means of getting closer with Daisy. Gatsby arranged a phone call with Jordan so that she would talk with Nick to arrange a meeting between Jay and Daisy. Gatsby and Nick conversed, “‘I talked with Miss Baker,’ I said after a moment. ‘I’m going to call up Daisy tomorrow and invite her over here to tea.’ ‘Oh, that’s all right,’ he said carelessly. ‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’ ‘What day would suit you?’ ‘What day would suit YOU?’ he corrected me quickly. ‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble, you see.’” (Fitzgerald 87-88). Although this interaction between the two sounds polite, Gatsby uses Nick as a way of getting closer with Daisy. Instead of asking Nick directly himself, he went through other people as a way of using them. Since Nick and Daisy are cousins, Gatsby thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to meet his love