“He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy… His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was.” (110)
Gatsby's Role
Jay Gatsby is the main character in the novel “The Great Gatsby”. Through him we see the reality of the American dream. At first we see the glamour of the parties he throws, and the positive aspects of his lifestyle (the large house, nice cars). But as you read further into the novel we see that Gatsby is a prime example of someone who was born poor but pursued the “American dream” Once we realize this he begins to represent the unhappiness, discontentment, and disappointment that many that have pursued the idea of the “American dream” have to face. Gatsby also acts as a character foil, since he lets us see the true nature of many characters such as Daisy when she chooses Tom over Gatsby, and Nick since we can see that he is truly judgmental because of his multiple opinions about Gatsby.
Through Gatsby we can also see into aspects of prohibition, which occurred in the 1920’s. We see how many influential people drink illegally and see how “bootleggers” are looked down upon in society.
Through Gatsby we can also see into aspects of prohibition, which occurred in the 1920’s. We see how many influential people drink illegally and see how “bootleggers” are looked down upon in society.
Best Qualities
Determined and Ambitious
There is no doubt that Gatsby is determined. Throughout the first few chapters of the book we see that he means to get Daisy back. However in this chapter we see that he is not only determined in pursuing his love for Daisy but also that he is determined to succeed. We learn that his parents were “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people [and] his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all” (98) because of this he decided to reinvent himself. We see his determination in how he is successful in separating himself from his past and his ambition in how he went from being penniless to earning all his money, turning him into the successful and rich Gatsby we see throughout the novel.
There is no doubt that Gatsby is determined. Throughout the first few chapters of the book we see that he means to get Daisy back. However in this chapter we see that he is not only determined in pursuing his love for Daisy but also that he is determined to succeed. We learn that his parents were “shiftless and unsuccessful farm people [and] his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all” (98) because of this he decided to reinvent himself. We see his determination in how he is successful in separating himself from his past and his ambition in how he went from being penniless to earning all his money, turning him into the successful and rich Gatsby we see throughout the novel.
Worst Qualities
Unrealistic
Gatsby is very unrealistic. Since he has once again found Daisy he wants “nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: “I never loved you.”(109) He expects her to agree to this and is surprised when she doesn’t and claims that “she doesn’t understand”(109) him any longer. What Gatsby fails to see however is the consequences that this could cause and the fact that Daisy is not keen on ending her 4-year relationship with Tom.
Stuck in the past
Throughout the novel we see that Gatsby is stuck in the past. We already know that instead of moving on once he realizes daisy is married and has a child, he makes it his goal to win her back. He throws magnificent parties in the hope that she will attend. Toward the end of this chapter once he notices that Daisy isn’t having a good time at the party, he reflects on the past and how “she used to be able to understand” (109) He doesn’t realize that Daisy is not the same innocent and alluring girl he met 5 years ago and plans “to fix everything the way it was before” (110) so he can win her back. As Nick says “he wants to recover something…if he could return to that certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was”(110)
Self Centered
Though Gatsby definitely loves Daisy we can see that he is a little bit self-centered. As said before once he find Daisy he expects “nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: “I never loved you.”(109). Though Daisy does not agree to this instead of considering why she may not want to do this – the fact that she has a good life with tom and that she has a child –he is determined to make her see his point of view.
Gatsby is very unrealistic. Since he has once again found Daisy he wants “nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: “I never loved you.”(109) He expects her to agree to this and is surprised when she doesn’t and claims that “she doesn’t understand”(109) him any longer. What Gatsby fails to see however is the consequences that this could cause and the fact that Daisy is not keen on ending her 4-year relationship with Tom.
Stuck in the past
Throughout the novel we see that Gatsby is stuck in the past. We already know that instead of moving on once he realizes daisy is married and has a child, he makes it his goal to win her back. He throws magnificent parties in the hope that she will attend. Toward the end of this chapter once he notices that Daisy isn’t having a good time at the party, he reflects on the past and how “she used to be able to understand” (109) He doesn’t realize that Daisy is not the same innocent and alluring girl he met 5 years ago and plans “to fix everything the way it was before” (110) so he can win her back. As Nick says “he wants to recover something…if he could return to that certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was”(110)
Self Centered
Though Gatsby definitely loves Daisy we can see that he is a little bit self-centered. As said before once he find Daisy he expects “nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: “I never loved you.”(109). Though Daisy does not agree to this instead of considering why she may not want to do this – the fact that she has a good life with tom and that she has a child –he is determined to make her see his point of view.