Mystery In The Great Gatsby

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby the character and history of Jay Gatsby is surrounded by an air of mystery. All of Gatsby’s actions are focused on his goal of escaping poverty and attempting to win back the love of his life Daisy Buchanan. Jay Gatsby is a wealthy and successful man however that was not always the case, Jay Gatsby or as he was born James Gatz was born to a poor farming family in North Dakota had always had a lust for wealth; this lust caused Gatz to devote his entire life to making a name for himself and do whatever it takes to gain a fortune of his own. This lust for fortune is shown by the young Gatz’s dreams for himself, “…these reveries provided an outlet for his imagination; they were a satisfactory hint of

All of Gatsby’s actions after returning home from World War One are intended to reconnect with Daisy. Gatsby first tries to make direct contact with Daisy by talking to Jordan, Daisy’s friend, and asking her to have Nick, Jordan’s friend and Gatsby’s neighbor, invite Gatsby and Jordan both over. (Fitzgerald 78). Gatsby’s desire to reunite with Daisy is also symbolized by a green light that is on the end of Daisy’s dock. Gatsby built his house across the water from Daisy’s where he always has a view of the green light, Nick notices Gatsby outside staring out looking at the light early on in the novel, “ …he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way…I glanced seaward-and distinguished nothing except a single green light.” (Fitzgerald 20-21). Gatsby also hosts extravagant parties almost every night in an attempt that Daisy will show up allowing him to finally reintroduce himself and restart their relationship where they ended it. Jordan realizes this after her conversation with Gatsby saying “I think he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night.” (Fitzgerald 79). Gatsby was never able to get over his losing Daisy after he went to war, so he used his friends to arrange a meeting for him, build his house near hers so he could always be close, as well as threw parties hoping that she would come by and be impressed by