Examples Of Trimalchio In The Great Gatsby

203 Words1 Pages
Trimalchio, an early version of The Great Gatsby gives more insight to how Fitzgerald intended to depict Gatsby. Gatsby reveals a “powerful need to unburden himself of the past”, which is displayed through his confession to Nick (Dubose 78). In Trimalchio, the discovery of his past is concretely told by Gatsby himself. Throughout the novel he is described as a “cloud of misunderstanding” because of his ambiguous past and source of wealth, which many consider to be disreputable (Sanders 113). At one of Gatsby’s extravagant parties Nick hears many descriptions of Gatsby, including a war hero, an Oxford man, a bootlegger, a murderer and a German spy (Dubose 75). In Trimalchio, he states “I’m empty, and I guess people feel it. That must be why