The Great Gatsby Research Paper

Romanticism Kills The idea of love is often considered one of the most powerful forces in the world, usually associated with good, however F. Scott Fitzgerald uses The Great Gatsby to show otherwise. Through the main character, Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald shows the extent people with the romantic mindset will go to pursue their desires, while pushing boundaries. Due to his romantic mindset, Gatsby creates an illusion of Daisy that prevents him from seeing the reality of their relationship, leading to his ultimate demise. Myrtle Wilson, similarly, is used to further explore the dangers of romanticism, but from a different and less viewed perspective. Myrtle's romantic pursuit of a life beyond her given social class ultimately leads to a gruesome

He believed that Daisy had the same feeling towards him and because of this illusion, “half-expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night,” and reignite their love for each other out of the blue. (Fitzgerald 79) The belief that Daisy was still in love with him showcases Gatsby's illusion of Daisy, and how he often ignores reality to believe in his own ideas. Gatsby’s end goal was always to marry Daisy, and this romantic mindset led him to start bootlegging alcohol. Although Gatsby did attain the wealth he desired, he did not acquire it with the morality he claimed to have done, as a ‘self made man.’ Not only did he bootleg for love, but he admitted to the murder of a man in the name of love. Gatsby acknowledges that Daisy was driving when she killed Myrtle but he decided to say “‘but of course I’ll say I was.’” Gatsby, blinded by the illusion of Daisy’s love, admits to the murder of Myrtle Wilson on behalf of Daisy. Because of Gatsby’s romanticism, he is murdered by Myrtle’s

In a similar fashion to Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson, is vital in understanding how Fitzgerald believes romanticism leads to negative outcomes. Myrtle was not only in love with the idea of her new lover, Tom, but her lackluster husband in the past and was even “‘crazy about him for a while.’” Myrtle's experience with her husband was a mirror of her relationship with Tom because she is blinded by the illusions that both men cast. When the illusion of Mr.Wilson’s gentlemanly manners fades, Myrtle looks for a new person to stimulate her romantic needs, which leads her to Tom. She feels like her marriage to her husband was a mistake and the “room rang full of her artificial laughter.” Upon Mrs.McKee mentioning that Myrtle “you can’t live forever, you can’t live forever.” While she recognizes that she can’t literally turn back time, she attempts to recreate what her idea or concept of love is with Tom. However, Myrtle’s relationship with Tom is toxic and dangerous because Myrtle chooses to ignore the negative things about Tom, because she is blinded by the illusion of Tom’s