In F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the death of Gatsby helps to illuminate the theme of Character through social status, desire, and betrayal. The fact that several individuals in The Great Gatsby manipulate their social status to their benefit, including Tom and Daisy, shows that they have low character. Nick describes how the Buchanans abuse their high status, “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things . . . and then retreated back into their money . . . and let other people clean up the mess they had made….” (Fitzgerald 191). Language such as “smashed things up” and “retreated back” amplifies Tom and Daisy’s actions and causes the reader to visualize their negative acts. Tom and Daisy carelessly mess up multiple lives in the text, including indirectly causing the death of Gatsby, before retreating back to their privileged life. They avoid any consequences for their actions. The reckless decisions made by the Buchanans through The Great Gatsby displays the questionable character in the book. …show more content…
The means in which Gatsby tried to make this happen enhance the theme of questionable character. Jordan explains Gatsby’s motives to Nick, “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay . . . I think he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night, but she never did.” (Fitzgerald 85). The word “half expected” informs the reader that Gatsby almost expected that the ostentatious parties would lure Daisy to him. Additionally, the reader realizes how far Gatsby will go to be with Daisy. The extravagant measures Gatsby will take to be with Daisy emphasizes the questionable character throughout the