Identity In The Great Gatsby

Gatsby is a very unique and mysterious figure in the novel The Great Gatsby. But there may be more to him than what meets the eye. The Great Gatsby was written in 1924 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Gatsby was born in North Dakota and came from a family of poor farmers. Gatsby wanted to be successful and looked for a better life than the one he had. But he didn’t know the rules of wealth. So he started in the bootlegging business and became very successful. Then, he moved to the East where he bought a mansion. There is an underlying message in the book that Jay Gatsby is a passing African American who conceals his true identity and hides behind a mask of wealth and privilege.

Fitzgerald adds many clues to Gatsby's true self in the dialogue he puts

However, we know from the end of the book that his father remains alive and is not wealthy at all. It makes you think was his family dead, or was he dead to his family because of his color? In another quote he said "I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors have been educated there for many years. It's a family tradition" (Fitzgerald 65). He is concerned with showing that he has a European heritage and almost like he needs to verify

Even though he may not be genetically white, he tends to hide his physical appearance and tries to act as if he ‘’fits in’’. On page 54 Nick describes Gatsby, ‘’His tanned skin was drawn attractively tight on his face and his short hair looked as though it were trimmed every day’’. Gatsby also seems to throw lavish parties at his mansion but then does not participate in any of the drinking or partying. It is not because he is anti-social Nick is impressed with his social skill when they talk at the party so the only real reason he would be throwing these parties is just to fit