Who is The Great Gatsby?

The Great Gatsby is a classical American literary work by F. Scott Fitzgerald that explores the idea American Dream. The American Dream is the promise that there are no boundaries to success. A simple rationale that hard work will lead to great rewards. Although the idea is beautiful and attractive on the surface, The Great Gatsby shows the hollowness of the notion.

F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the search for the American Dream through a character that can be classified as a tragic hero. Gatsby was born into a family of poor and unsuccessful farmers. After serving in the war, Gatsby returned home focused on rekindling an old flame with Daisy, a personification of the American Dream. With hard work, not necessarily honest work, completed to achieve the wealth he needs to win Daisy over, Gatsby finds a way to connect with Daisy once again. But with his sight fixed on his perception of Daisy, Gatsby fails to see the world for what is truly is, which ultimately leads to his demise.

Position of Power

"I was able to do the commissioner a favor once, and he sends me a Christmas card every year." - Jay Gatsby

Although Gatsby was not born into money or nobility, he finds himself surrounded by fortune and riches. From bootlegging to more severe crimes, Gatsby makes enough money to entertain large parties every weekend. Additionally, more than money, Gatsby has powerful associates. In Chapter 4, we see the connection that Gatsby has with the Police Commissioner of New York. When the police officer pulls Gatsby over for speeding, the police officer instantly backs down at the flash of a card. With the great wealth and connections, Gatsby passes the first check to be a tragic hero.

Tragic Flaw

"There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams—not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion" - Nick Carraway

Gatsby's tragic flaw is his naïve idealism, his commitment to the American Dream. Gatsby is unable to come to terms with reality. Not only does Gatsby clings onto the past with every muscle in his body, but Gatsby also latches onto an ideal future that can never come true. Gatsby has the misconception that everything will end the way he imagined, without looking at the present facts. Gatsby disregards the difference in background, with Gatsby being a new money outcast in the eyes of East Eggers. Gatsby disregards Tom's jealously and marriage with Daisy, believing that Gatsby's relationship with Daisy is stronger. And most notably, Gatsby disregards the love that Daisy has for Tom during the years of their marriage and his service overseas. The expectations that Gatsby had for Daisy, a representation of the American Dream, were too good to come true.

Downfall

More than losing his wealth and power, like all tragic heroes, Gatsby loses his life.

Conclusion

In Gatsby's journey in search for something great, he instead walks to his demise. More than a tragic hero whos greatness is questionable, the book speaks about the hollowness of the American Dream. The promise of success was not fulfilled for Gatsby. Instead, Gatsby's blind devotion to the American Dream left him with nothing more than a bullet of death.

References

F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby. xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/Fitzgerald/gatsby/cover.html

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