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Why Is Gatsby Great

1387 Words6 Pages

Any average person would desire to be a “Gatsby” who is extremely wealthy, widely idolized, and seemingly impeccable. Indeed, what makes Gatsby great is his lavish lifestyle and self-earned wealth. However, the more one observes Gatsby, the more one realizes that his epithet is incongruous with his actual character. Not only is the major factor that makes him remarkable, wealth, a result of illegal bootlegging, but he seems to contradict his ‘greatness’ in various instances in the novel. This leaves the readers to speculate that the title of the book is ironic as Gatsby is not great because he is too naïve, pursues after a married Daisy and does not achieve the American Dream. To begin with, Gatsby is not great because he is too naïve. The …show more content…

Furthermore, Gatsby’s epithet is inapt as he fails to attain the American Dream. During his lifetime, he seems like a prominent member of his community because he hosts so many parties. Ironically, at Gatsby’s funeral barely ten people make appearance. Nick even mentions, “But [looking around for visitors] wasn’t any use. Nobody came” (Fitzgerald 174). The readers would expect that a “great” figure like Gatsby would be surrounded by his friends, colleagues, family, and lover at his final proceeding, but the reality is exactly the opposite. He is forgotten and not admired, and his lifetime finesse which he anxiously displayed through his parties does not seem to be remarkable anymore. Ideally, if Gatsby has truly achieved the American Dream, he should be a personification of someone who is eulogized, revered, and loved even until his last moment. However, this is not the case for Gatsby and this leads the readers to realize how he was not “great” enough to fulfill his American Dream. Interestingly though, Gatsby does not cease his chase after American Dream. The novel ends on an irresolute note with Nick saying: “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther….And one fine morning——” (Fitzgerald 180). The “green light”, which serves as a symbol for everything Gatsby strived for in his lifetime, lingers even after his death, convincing more people, including Gatsby, that the American Dream is still possible. Even after his demise, he holds a strong faith in the American Dream and the fraudulences that sustains the Dream, which suggests that he is not great because he is still imperceptive of the quixotic nature of the American Dream. Hence, Gatsby’s failure to achieve the American Dream and his incessant chase after it confutes Gatsby’s greatness

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In the New York Times editorial “Jay Gatsby, Dreamer, Criminal, Jazz Age Rogue, Is a Man for Our Times,”(4/7/02) Adam Cohen asserts that Americans identify with the character of Jay Gatsby because they aspire to achieve success, while overlooking the risks that accompany prosperity. He supports his claim by first explaining young Gatsby’s rigorous daily schedule illustrating his focused mentality, then revealing his influential exposure to war and criminal elements, then expressing how he remained pure through his desire for Daisy’s love, and finally presenting the symbolization of the green light which embodies the American Dream. Cohen’s purpose is to demonstrate the flaws in Gatsby’s dream in order to show his unrealistic ambition for success

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Fitzgerald 's focus on this passage this passage relates to how he presents the rest of the novel shows his cynic approach toward the American Dream. This cynicism is highlighted throughout Gatsby, the first time being when Tom crushes his American Dream, and the last when Gatsby dies. The American Dream is viewed as more of this unattainable concept rather than a completely achievable possibility. After this point in the novel, the concept of lost hopes and desires remains present. Without this passage, Nick would not have a moment of realization where he sees the American Dream as unattainable, which influences his decision to want to go back home and leave New York and the possibilities he could potentially have.

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Great Gatsby Dbq

1209 Words | 5 Pages

“ It shows that the healthiest, happiest and even safest -- in terms of both climate change disaster, in terms of crime, all of that -- are Americans who live lives intertwined with their neighbors.” (Source B) People living in such humbleness can only bring abundance of happiness into their lives. The feeling of insufficiently achieving a curtain exception can be defeating the purpose of the American dream, by patronizing the freedom and value of diversity in this nation. Gatsby’s lifestyle was not respected or admired to be seen as achieving the American dream. “So while Gatsby's story arc resembles a traditional rags-to-riches tale, the fact that he gained his money immorally complicates the idea that he is a perfect avatar for the American Dream.”

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Furthermore, as he finds materialistic success, Gatsby realizes his wealth does not lead to a path of his happiness. Gatsby's remain an illusion-corrupted by the desire of the luxurious lifestyle he possesses; forging an image that does not represent his true self. " ...but the two or three people of whom I asked his whereabouts stared at me in such an amazed way, and denied any knowledge of his movements…(pg.42). " To the audience, Gatsby remains a symbol of success and desolation in the American Dream. He has created a masked image of himself to society- becoming a man with false perceptions of of prosperity.

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610 Words | 3 Pages

On one hand, Gatsby gains enormous wealth through his own effort from the bottom of the society, which could be regarded as “the great” from a practical perspective in his guests’ eyes. However, in the end, his success becomes just an illusion. His ultimate dream—Daisy’s love –cannot be gained even if he is that wealthy, and his tragic death indicates that “the greatness” of his striving is easy to be destroyed. On the other hand, “the great” also reveals that Gatsby used to be a great figure in his numerous guests’ eyes, when he is able to hold glamorous parties every week. However, ironically, eventually he is just a nobody that none of his friends except Nick care after his death.

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The Great Gatsby is an amazing that totally describes almost every aspects of the American’s society in the 1920s: money, classes, fame, and ambitions. Jay Gatsby – our protagonist - is one of those who seeks luxury and position in society to reach his dream. In the characteristic of Gatsby, we can see through the truth, corruption face of the so-called “American Dream”. Although Gatsby under the eyes of normal people in the book is nothing else than a crazy criminal that gained his wealth and goal by committing crimes, his deluxe house, beautiful suits and luxurious party are illusions. But Nick and the readers know that Gatsby is actually more than that; he is “unique”, an excellent individual that different than everyone.

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Corruption Of The American Dream In The Great Gatsby Analysis

1756 Words | 8 Pages

This indicates that Gatsby was a man who believed in the “orgastic future” and a world that was superior to the one he found himself in. Furthermore, Gatsby 's attempt to pursue the American Dream is seen through his struggle to reach for the “green light” which symbolizes Gatsby 's dream of being with Daisy, This is demonstrated when: He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness (5).

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1218 Words | 5 Pages

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