Moral Ambiguity In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby, the character of Jay Gatsby stands out as one of moral ambiguity, captivating readers with his mysterious persona and complex actions. Gatsby's character is defined by his lavish displays of wealth and his unwavering devotion to Daisy Buchanan, the object of his affection. However, beneath his glamorous shell lies a man whose moral compass is often difficult to decipher. Gatsby’s moral ambiguity can be seen in his shady background and business dealings, however, everything he does seems to be in the interest of impressing Daisy, making the reader question if Gatsby is all that bad. Throughout the novel, Gatsby is an extremely mysterious character. However, from early on, the reader can see that he’s a romantic who’s dedicated everything to impressing Daisy.

An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in." (Fitzgerald 84) Gatsby had a full greenhouse worth of flowers delivered to Nick's house, all to impress Daisy. Gatsby also wore a nice white shirt with a gold tie to seem richer and more successful, all to impress a girl. Furthermore, after the accident that killed Meryl, Nick finds Gatsby outside the Buchanan’s house and asks "Was Daisy driving?" "Yes," he (Gatsby) said after a moment, "but of course, I'll say I was." (Fitzgerald 143) Gatsby's willingness to lie and protect Daisy portrays his dedication to Daisy and paints him as a good man willing to take the fall for the woman he loves. Gatsby is not all that bad if he’s willing to do all this for the woman he loves. However, Gatsby is not all that