ipl-logo

Similarities Between George Wilson And The Great Gatsby

1241 Words5 Pages

The perfect society would be a society, where everyone is born with the same opportunities and privileges. Until then, the fortuitous born would have all the chances thrown at them, while the rest would fight blood and nails for a better future. Especially in the 20s, where your birth wealth determined your future, it was essential to have stealth and quick mind. That was what separated and connected Jay and George together, the same birth condition, but different aspirations. Gatsby was uneducated, but well accommodated to the rich life, George was uneducated and knew nothing about the lives of the rich. One man, yet different identities, these two represent the two different sides of America: hope, and despair. Hoping for the day Daisy would …show more content…

At first glance, who would have thought that the "Great" Jay Gatsby would have any similarities with a jaded man like George Wilson, but as the book moves forward and we are introduced more into the life of Gatsby, did everyone notice the similarity. Even before Gatsby's past bomb was delivered, there were subtle hints: where Gatsby lived, his choice acquaintances and his source less wealth. Gatsby lived in West Egg, and not East Egg when he came from a supposedly wealthy family. Flashy cars, flamboyant outwears and huge parties; all a sign of a wealthy man trying to show off his greens. As mentioned by Nick in the book, riches came from old money tend to be more sophisticated while the other half, the new money half, tend to be more flashy and into faces about their wealth. When Gatsby's past was discovered, it was not a big shock to Nick, for he knew it was coming from a mile away. Just a more prominent link between Gatsby and Wilson being discovered. Aside from growing up poor, what they did …show more content…

Tom had everything Gatsby and Wilson were lacking, a silver spoon fed youth and a quality education, a guaranteed good life for women. Daisy turned blind eye towards Tom's affairs, while Myrtle ignored his tempestuous physical abuse, highlighting women's rights and status during the 20s. Women preferred educated and rich man for their husbands, because they had no other way to make their livings. An educated man was not Gatsby nor Wilson, only George was more forward with it. Gatsby tried to delude people into thinking that he was a wealthy orphan from the West, went to "Oggsford" and was a fine gentleman only with his skills copied off of Dan Cody. Wilson did not try to trick anyone, because everyone knew who he was and how he was raised in the Valley of Ashes anyway, an escape less entity.

Jay escaped his bleek future, while George rotted in his destined prison; Gatsby escaped, Wilson did not. A shadowing of their differences begin from there,

Open Document