Individuals will change themselves to appear differently than who they are in reality. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the protagonist Jay Gatsby, initially wasn’t in love with anyone or at least didn’t appear to be. Gatsby then met Nick Carraway and quickly became friends, Gatsby expressed his feelings for Daisy to Nick who briefly became the bridge between Gatsby and Daisy. Ultimately, Gatsby gave everything for Daisy because he was lost in the fake reality he created by changing himself to appear the way he thought would appeal most to Daisy. Jay Gatsby demonstrates the idea that love is blinding because he becomes blinded by his love for Daisy which results in the loss of all his possessions, including his life.
Jay Gatsby's love for Daisy Buchanan seems to possess an otherworldly quality, an elegant charm that sets it apart from the realm of reality. "He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy." (Fitzgerald, 118). Gatsby's idealized vision of Daisy, forged through years of yearning and longing, creates a romantic mirage that obscures the
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The character of Jay Gatsby epitomizes this notion. Gatsby, a self-made man, emerges as a symbol of prosperity and luxury, hosting extravagant parties. The people who attend these festivities perceive Gatsby as an icon of success. However, Fitzgerald unmasks the illusory nature of Gatsby's existence, remarking that "people disappeared, reappeared, made plans to go somewhere, and then lost each other, searched for each other, found each other a few feet away" (Fitzgerald, 41). Gatsby's lavish parties merely serve as a charade, disguising his longing for Daisy's love. This contrast between Gatsby's extravagant image and his inner yearning illustrates the conflict between appearance and