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The Great Gatsby Research Paper

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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby explores the motif of appearance versus reality through the character of Jay Gatsby. Gatsby establishes an identity that is based on his glorified image of the past, rather than the reality of his current life, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan reflects his belief in the power of perception to shape reality. This ultimately leads to his tragic downfall. Throughout his novel, Fitzgerald highlights the tension between the idealized image of success and the harsh reality of social inequality through his use of appearance versus reality. Fitzgerald uses appearance versus reality through Gatsby's extravagant parties and luxurious lifestyle to reflect the illusion of the American Dream and the superficiality …show more content…

Nick Carraway's narration describes Gatsby's mansion as "a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden" (9), revealing that the mansion is not an authentic representation of wealth and luxury, but rather a copy of something else. The imagery of the mansion depicts how its features are all symbols of wealth, but they are also superficial and do not reflect the true nature of Gatsby's success. The paradox is revealed as the mansion is described as a "factual imitation," creating a sense of irony as the mansion appears to be a real symbol of Gatsby's success, but in reality, it is not. Gatsby has created an idealized image of success that is based on the appearance of wealth and luxury, rather than the reality of social inequality. His mansion is an attempt to create the appearance of success, but it is not a genuine representation of his true social status. Nick describes the guests at Gatsby's party as "men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars" (43), revealing that Gatsby's parties are designed to create the illusion of glamor and …show more content…

The diction "whisperings" and "champagne" further emphasizes the idea that Gatsby's parties are characterized by superficiality, rather than genuine social interaction. The reference to the "stars" also suggests that Gatsby's parties are an attempt to create the appearance of luxury, not the reality of it. These literary devices are utilized to display that Gatsby's parties are an attempt to create the appearance of wealth and status, but they are not a true reflection of his true social status. The people who attend his parties are drawn to the appearance of wealth and luxury, but they are not necessarily the same people who would be his equals outside of his mansion and in society. The quote, “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one" (98),

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The Facade of Gatsby’s Parties The figurative language and syntax on page 41 conveys the fallacy of the people at Gatsby's parties. Page 41 begins to describe one of Gatsby’s parties using many forms of figurative language. People arrive with their “hair shorn in strange new ways, and shawls beyond the dreams of Castile,” decked out in their fancy clothes, desperate to be the center of attention.

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Gatsby hosts extravagant parties in an effort not only to boost his social status, but also to look for Daisy. Many wealthy, and often wild people attend these large social events held by Mr. Gatsby. Some of the guests even come lacking an invitation, “Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission.” (41)

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Another evidence of his wealth is the colossal parties in his “mansion” (5) that he throws every week. Gatsby’s parties are always loud and big, many rich and famous people attend his parties. Furthermore, Gatsby is a very mysterious and everyone who attends his parties spreads rumors about him “[they] say he’s a nephew or a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm’s” (32). This shows that no one knows anything about Gatsby he is very secretive and distant from people who he has no interest in. Finally, Gatsby is described as a hopeless romantic he has “an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness” (2).

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Another manifestation of Gatsby’s pursuit for Daisy is in the extravagant parties he throws every weekend, where he leaves his doors open and invites everyone, hopeful that eventually, Daisy will attend. What these celebrations also accomplish is portraying an image of wealth and success, an illusion that Gatsby belongs to the upper class regardless of his secretive, shady and poverty-stricken background. However, Gatsby remains a distant, unknown figure to most of the partygoers who, instead, wander like “moths among the whisperers” (Fitzgerald 29), only seeking to indulge in Gatsby's wealth and luxury. While his parties assert abundance and pleasure, during the event, Gatsby sits alone, discontent and unfulfilled, lacking any meaningful relationships in his life and still clinging to the past. Jay Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy Buchanan—his fixation on attaining status, only results in a desperate, shallow life marked by the unhappiness of never being able to pursue his first

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