The Great Gatsby Really Great Essay

The Not So Great Gatsby The 1920’s otherwise known as the Roaring Twenties allowed for many people to prosper and gain wealth through illegal methods. Although many people were able to gain a status they otherwise would not have been able to, questions about morals of such individuals arose. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway, the narrator is intrigued by Jay Gatsby, one of the richest individuals around who has what others can only dream about. His life long “American Dream” is to reunite with his past love, Daisy Buchannan, who is already married to Tom Buchannan. Gatsby revolves his life around this dream which eventually turns into a nightmare. Jay Gatsby is not great because he puts on a mask to deceive others

The dream that Gatsby is chasing is his former flame, Daisy Buchannan as he didicates his entire existence trying to be with her. From the long nights of staring at the flashing green light at her house, to showing off his wealth whenever he can, it is clear what Gatsby really dreams about is being with Daisy. He is attempting to rekindle their previous love, even though Daisy has moved on and is in a new relationship. After Gatsby’s death, Tom narrates that Gatsby “paid a high price for living too long with a single dream” (Fitzgerald 161). Dedicating his entire life to chasing a former love, causes the downfall of Jay Gatsby. By failing to accept reality, he is unable to move on. A great man is able to forget the past and continue to take steps in the right direction, but Gatsby tries to retrace his steps and rewind the clock, resulting in his inevitable demise. Jay has past desires that are currently still holding him back. When told by Nick that he cannot repeat the past Jay exclaims “Why of course you can”(Fitzgerald 110). Gatsby’s inability to move on with his life shows a belief he has, in which he thinks he can will his idealized vision into existence. He does not want to accept reality and continues to live with this delusion. Gatsby is unable to realize that this past dream he is chasing is ultimately a