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Flawless And Afraid In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, the protagonist, Jay Gatsby, is portrayed as a character who has created a flawless and impressive new persona for himself. The novel explores the ways in which Gatsby reinvents himself in order to win back the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. The question of whether Gatsby's new persona is truly flawless and impressive is one that is open to interpretation. On one hand, it can be argued that Gatsby's new persona is not flawless. In the novel, Gatsby's past is shrouded in mystery and it is revealed that he has a criminal background. Additionally, Gatsby's actions, such as his involvement in bootlegging and his manipulation of those around him, can be seen as morally questionable. As Gatsby says, "I've been everywhere and seen everything and done everything" (Fitzgerald, 91). This quote suggests that Gatsby's past is not as perfect as he makes it out to be. …show more content…

Gatsby is able to completely reinvent himself and create a new identity that is not only accepted by those around him but also admired. Gatsby's wealth and luxurious lifestyle are also impressive, as he is able to throw extravagant parties and buy a mansion on Long Island. As Gatsby says, "I've been around a long time... I made my fortune myself" (Fitzgerald, 92). This quote shows Gatsby's determination and ambition, which are admirable

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With his mind set on his dream life he hoped to once live, Gatsby tries to press on into the future yet is offset by the effects of his past. The Great Gatz hides from his past, his means and his truth in order to win back Daisy’s love. “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’”

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The American novelist, F. Scott Fitzgerald, who wrote the novel The Great Gatsby in 1925, has a character named Jay Gatsby, who makes many appearances throughout the novel. While Jay Gatsby who was first introduced in the third chapter is a character who takes part in the summer activities, Jay Gatsby, with his “tanned skin” that was “drawn attractively tight on his face and his short hair looked as though it was trimmed every day,” makes a wondering impression on the readers (50). After the scene of the party at his house and a day in the city with Tom, Daisy, Nick, and Jordan, Jay Gatsby represents what a character should not be. This man is a dynamic character who changes for the worse: Jay Gatsby begins the novel by being an impressive man, however, as the novel progresses, he becomes a more destructive man.

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In F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby, the character of Jay Gatsby stands out as one of moral ambiguity, captivating readers with his mysterious persona and complex actions. Gatsby's character is defined by his lavish displays of wealth and his unwavering devotion to Daisy Buchanan, the object of his affection. However, beneath his glamorous shell lies a man whose moral compass is often difficult to decipher. Gatsby’s moral ambiguity can be seen in his shady background and business dealings, however, everything he does seems to be in the interest of impressing Daisy, making the reader question if Gatsby is all that bad. Throughout the novel, Gatsby is an extremely mysterious character.

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Gatsby had to work hard to reach what he used to have and keep on working to maintain his wealth and reputation.

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ysy Lopez-Zamora Mr.Tracy AP Language and Composition 12 April 2023 Confrontation with the past Even small decisions can impact or alter what the future may look like for each person as an individual, but they may also affect those whom they surround. One of the biggest decisions for Jay Gatsby, had him commit to an illusion of a life alongside someone beyond reach. The novel, The Great Gatsby, by F.Scott Fitzgerald, shows how Gatsby’s past affected the way he made decisions for the present day by showcasing the motives and value behind some of his choices, the kind of reputation he has built from his past, and how all his actions led him to his ultimate misfortune in order to prove how one’s past can really affect the future. There are

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The eponymous character was born the day he met Dan Cody and invented himself a new life. Ultimately, Gatsby created and fabricated his own ideal ‘identity’ to meet his expectations: “The truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his platonic conception of himself […] so he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year- old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end.” Two identities therefore arise: Jay Gatsby and James Gatz. Yet one can almost see the threads of James Gatz behind the Gatsby facade. With Daisy, Gatsby loses the carefully constructed identity: he reverts to the young soul seeking for his place in the world, with “a touch of panic” in his voice when he realises that Daisy has “slipped away [and become something] no longer tangible”.

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