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Why Is Jay Gatsby Great

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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby exhibits the glitz of society in the 1920’s; Jay Gatsby fakes the rags-to-riches dream life. He starts his life off impoverished, as the son of a farmer, and cheats his way up the societal hiearchy with bootlegging, resulting in becoming rich and unnecessarily well known. Gatsby becomes a prominent figure of the American dream life. Jay Gatsby makes questionable actions which makes him not great because he cut through his persona to obtain his dream and climb up the ladder of societal hiearchy. Jay Gatsby is not substantial because he constructs around his indigent past to create his false luxurious life representing the American Dream. Nick Carraway, the narrator and friend of Gatsby, views Jay Gatsby …show more content…

As Nick settles into his new home, he observes the society revolving around him. He listens as people speak highly of Gatsby’s glamorous reputation, and continues to feel puzzled by Gatsby’s character. Within his first few months of being Gatsby’s neighbor, Nick observes Gatsby’s Rolls-Royce becoming a vehicle to bring his party guests from place to place at any time of the day. He also observes Gatsby’s station wagon being used to speed to the train station so that guests can be on time after his parties (Fitzgerald 43). Gatsby manipulates society into thinking he is a prosperous man, patchily covering his flaws with lies about his imperfect past. Society creates misconceptions about Gatsby and believe that he is the outcome of the American Dream life. As Nick asks Gatsby about his life, Gatsby “hurried the phrase “educated at Oxford,”... as though it had bothered him … [leaving Nick to wonder] if there wasn’t something a little sinister about him” (Fitzgerald 70). The ruse he pulls on society does not last long as his obsession with hierarchical value only greatened. Gatsby’s hope for succeeding motivates him to mask his true identity while on a journey towards his passion to become great. Nick explains that Gatsby "believe[s] in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before [him]. It eluded [him] then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow [he]

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In the exposition he describes that Gatsby had, “...one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across five or four times in life” (48). Nick created Gatsby as someone he can never be, someone who impresses women with just one glimpse. Nick wants to be dreamy and irresistible just like Gatsby seems to be. Other than his appearance and personality, Nick also envies Gatsby's wealth when he describes his parties with great detail, “ On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city…” (39). Nick is fascinated by Gatsby's wealth.

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1218 Words | 5 Pages

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