Examples Of Reality In The Great Gatsby

“I believe in looking reality straight in the eye and denying it.” Garrison Keillor, a well known author, storyteller, humorist, radio actor, voice actor, and radio personality, believes in not facing reality by denying it. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald shows how Gatsby denies the fact that he can’t have Daisy, and Myrtle doesn’t face reality by wanting to be with Tom. Through Jay Gatsby’s and Myrtle Wilson’s behaviors, Fitzgerald agrees that both characters deny reality. By dreaming of marrying Daisy for five years, Gatsby proves that he isn’t being realistic. Throughout the novel Gatsby exemplifies the characteristics of a willfully ignorant human being, and does not choose to change his mindset. While at Nick’s house for tea talking about

After his embarrassment and his unreasoning joy he was consumed with wonder at her presence. He had been full of the idea so long, dreamed it right through the end, waited with his teeth set, so to speak, at an inconceivable pitch of intensity. Now, in the reaction, he was running down like an overwound clock” (Fitzgerald 91). Gatsby had been dreaming of marrying Daisy for five years. He spent a sixth of his life waiting for someone who has moved on. This should have made him embarrassed, but to him it was something normal. Just as he is trying to convince himself he can do anything, Gatsby says, “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” (Fitzgerald 118). After waiting many years, Gatsby still believes that he can go back to the past and acquire Daisy’s love, but now she is married and things have changed. While on the way to

From beginning to end in the book Myrtle Before getting hit by Gatsby, Myrtle says, “Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!” (Fitzgerald 146). Myrtle denies the fact that George can never be like Tom. She shows her need for George to beat her like Tom has in the past because Tom is the definition of a “real man” to her. While at Myrtle and Gatsby’s party in New York, Myrtle explains how poor her husband is, by asserting, “He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in” (Fitzgerald 35). Being rich is Myrtle’s goal. She has become so obsessed with Tom and his money, and has treated her husband like he is nothing every since. Her idea of a perfect man would be a man who is wealthy. While at her and Tom’s apartment in New York, she chooses to deny that she’s not really wealthy, Myrtle says, “I told that boy about the ice." Myrtle raised her eyebrows in despair at the shiftlessness of the lower orders. "These people! You have to keep after them all the time" (Fitzgerald 35). Myrtle believes that acting like a snob makes her sound wealthy or fancy. Acting the way she does isn’t fooling anyone. She will still be poor and married to George in the end. In conclusion, Myrtle could not seem to understand the importance of