What Does Defiance Mean In The Great Gatsby

Towards the end of the novel, Nick really confirms his stand with Gatsby and his dreams instead of the snobbish ultra wealthy which demonstrates how readers should do the same. Nick begins to foster “a feeling of defiance, of scornful solidarity between Gatsby and [himself] against them all” which shows how although Gatsby isn’t perfect he is much better than the likes of Tom and Daisy (Fitzgerald 165). Nick’s feeling of “defiance” shows how strong this feeling is as he isn’t just advocating for Gatsby, he is standing up “against” the ultra wealthy. Nick feels a “solidarity” because he is united with Gatsby for his work against the shallow ultra wealthy, work which was done through his dream and pursuit of that dream. And while this solidarity

This further exhibits how Nick is taking a stance with the dreamer ideology of Gatsby and against egocentrism, a stance which readers also take with them. The need for others to take this stance is on full display when Nick finds himself “on Gatsby’s side, and alone” as nobody else being on Gatsby’s side, the side that represents dreams, shows how little support those who dream get in society which stresses the need for people to start to offer that support. On top of that, the “and alone” being a kind of afterthought displays how Nick didn’t choose to be on Gatsby’s side because of who did and didn't support him, he chose to support Gatsby because that was the right thing to do, making readers see supporting those with dreams as the right thing to do as well. This can also be seen all the way to the very end as even with Gatsby dead, Nick still takes the time to erase an “obscene word” scribbled on Gatsby’s “white steps,” maintaining the purity the white represents and trying his best to keep Gatsby’s legacy