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How Is Jay Gatsby Selfish

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Levi Donoghue Mr. Murphy English 10 2 April 2024 The Tragedy of Gatsby In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the narrative unfolds through the embodiment of the American Dream in Jay Gatsby, a character whose relentless pursuit of wealth and love drives the story forward. From his humble origins to his self-made fortune and unyielding devotion to Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby's life revolves around the pursuit of his dreams. Although Jay Gatsby wasn't born great or given greatness, he became great through his strong determination and ability to bounce back from challenges. Exploring Gatsby's motivations reveals the complex mix of desires, influences from his past, and personal experiences that shape who he is. Jay Gatsby's story touches on important …show more content…

Scott Fitzgerald cautions that pursuing the American Dream of wealth and love may ultimately lead to their downfall. His work illustrates how placing excessive emphasis on material gain over genuine connections and ethical principles can result in a sense of hollowness and disillusionment. Jay Gatsby, originally known as James Gatz, emerges as a character of profound intrigue. Gatsby's elusive origins and transformative journey are central to the curiosity surrounding his persona. Little is known about his past, surrounding him in mystery and igniting curiosity about his true identity. Various stories and rumors swirl about him, each adding layers to the puzzle. As Gatsby is driving Nick to meet one of his mysterious coworkers he states, "I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West—all dead now." (Fitzgerald 70). Though this quote is a lie, he carefully constructs his words so there is no way to verify his origins, further adding to the intrigue of his true identity. Gatsby's ability to weave illusions and manipulate perceptions only deepens the mystery surrounding him, as he navigates the glittering world of East Egg with a veneer of success and fulfillment which both captivates and perplexes those around …show more content…

Daisy embodies Gatsby's ultimate aspiration, symbolizing not only love and happiness but also validation of his newfound status and identity. Jay Gatsby embodies the tragic cycle of recurring patterns and the theme of inevitability through his relentless pursuit of the American Dream, persisting despite his extravagant wealth and lavish lifestyle, as he remains haunted by his unattainable love for Daisy Buchanan. The conversation with Nick, where Gatsby passionately declares, "Can’t repeat the past?" Why of course you can!" illustrates his unwavering belief in the power to reshape history and underscores his fixation on rewriting the past to recreate a romanticized version (Fitzgerald 118). As the final quote states “Gatsby believed... It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” (Fitzgerald 193). Gatsby's fixation on rewriting history and recreating a romanticized past traps him in a cycle of disillusionment and longing. His inability to see Daisy for who she truly is leads to his

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