Thaison Nguyenba Mr. Arthurs Honors English 10 9 April 2024 The Corruption and Societal Forces Behind Jay Gatsby’s Death Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, set in the Roaring ‘20s, has become a popular classic in literature and comments on various issues in society most prominent throughout that decade. Through each character in this book, Fitzgerald captures a certain flaw in American society and displays it as a warning to the public, simultaneously criticizing the norms of the era. The story’s climax occurs with the death of Gatsby, the book’s namesake, and a characterization of the state of the U.S. economy. Throughout the story, many corrupt characters become entangled with Gatsby and his dreams, ultimately resulting in an abrupt end to his life. Although Daisy encouraged Gatsby’s …show more content…
Leading directly up to his death, Gatsby sets the scene of his own murder. He decides again to remain in his mansion and goes for a swim in his pool while he waits, hoping beyond hope, for Daisy to call him. He asks his butler to remain by the phone and “[bring] it to him at the pool” if someone calls, to ensure he doesn’t miss a call from Daisy while he goes off alone to swim (Fitzgerald 124). The lack of concern for his safety, because of his continued hopes to be with Daisy, directly gives the murderer an opportunity to kill Gatsby without anyone there to hinder him. Through his continued false hope and self-illusionment, Gatsby causes his own death by refusing to flee New York for safety as well as giving the perfect opportunity for the murderer to kill him without opposition. Even though Daisy allowed and encouraged Gatsby’s dreams and illusions, he himself was the direct cause of his own death because of his obsession with Daisy and his refusal to let her