Jay Gatsby Downfall

969 Words4 Pages

Emily Wojcik
The Great Gatsby has Fallen On the day of August 12, 1922, West Egg’s one and only Jay Gatsby, was shot and killed by George Wilson while going for a swim in his own house. He was 32 years old. Gatsby’s rag-to-riches story is one to envy, he went from being the son of fairly unsuccessful farmers, to a self-made millionaire, leaving behind a whole world for a new one. Jay Gatsby was actually born James Gatz, growing up in a poverty-ridden area in rural North Dakota where he longed for wealth and class. He proceeded to attend St. Olaf”s College in Minnesota but dropped out after just two weeks because he could not endure to keep working as a janitor, the job in which he was paying his college tuition with.
“Jay Gatsby” was born the day James Gatz met Dan Cody, a very wealthy man, on his yacht. That day marked the beginning of his new life with a new identity. Cody became Gatsby’s mentor and best friend after he was hired to assist him, the young man was taken under Cody’s wing. Gatsby got to see how the other side lived, he was introduced to fine living and luxury, essentially becoming obsessed with it. He was willing to do anything to achieve it, he was smart and ambitious. When Dan Cody died a couple years later, money was left for Gatsby to inherit but he never …show more content…

“He come out to see me two years ago and bought me the house I live in now. Of course we was broke up when he run off from home, but I see now there was a reason for it. He knew he had a big future in front of him. And ever since he made a success he was very generous with me.” Henry Gatz says, Jay wanted a relationship with his father, he always did. “He had a big future before him, you know. He was only a young man but he had a lot of brain power here.” Gatz states. It was obvious from the beginning that Jay Gatsby would be successful in his