The Great Gatsby Essay
The Great Gatsby is a story where the plot remains primarily around Jay Gatsby himself, but is set in the third-person perspective of Nick Carraway. This creates a setback throughout the story because it did not show Gatsby's full point of view, just what Nick observed. Even though the story focuses on Gatsby's achievements and heroism, it is obvious that Nick Carraway, the narrator, displays even greater qualities of a hero. This is not to undermine Mr. Gatsby's nobility; Gatsby has qualities that every person admires, such as, determination, desire to fulfill dreams, and persistence in the pursuit of love. However, Nick Carraway exhibits characteristics that are much more realistic and ...view middle of the document...
For example, in one part of the story Jordan and Nick have a conversation about Jordan's attitude towards driving and her carelessness of the matter when Nick remarks, "Suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself." Jordan responds, "I hope I never will, I hate careless people. That's why I like you." (Fitzgerald 63). From there on until their fallout, Nick acted as Jordan's responsible partner. Nick Carraway helped Jordan Baker in so many ways, ways that she did not really deserve. In the same way, Nick Carraway was also a hero to Mr. Gatsby. Carraway and Gatsby developed a strong bond as the story went on. At the start of the story, Gatsby already planned to use Nick to his own advantage just to see Daisy. Nick knew this, yet he still allowed it to go on. This is the type of person Nick is, selfless, because he wants to help others. Nick never hesitated to help Gatsby because he saw how much Gatsby loved Daisy, and how Gatsby waited so desperately all those years yearning for her. Jay Gatsby never aided anyone else in the story in such a way because of the simple fact that anything that does not involve Daisy for him is meaningless. Nick Carraway acted as a hero throughout the story in a way Jay Gatsby never once did, aiding others and seeing the wrong in situations and trying to fix it.
James Gatz, a.k.a. Jay Gatsby, is a literary character who had big dreams that stemmed from humble beginnings. Gatsby was born as James Gatz to poor, Midwest farmers; however, growing up, "Jimmy", as his father called him, had bigger aspirations than to live in the Midwest and farm. When James Gatz was recruited by Dan Cody on his yacht, he molded Jay to have even larger goals after seeing the richer lifestyle. He changed his name to Jay Gatsby, a name that has more of a ring to it, and that is where the Gatsby empire began. Mr. Gatsby made riches off of bootlegging, something not to be admired, but he did it. He went on to live in a mansion in West Egg, a prominent area, and live a luxurious life. Did Jay Gatsby attain the American dream? When people think of achieving the ultimate American dream, they think of someone who came from a nothing, poverty-stricken life, to creating an empire of riches. The American dream is thought of as coming from a modest background to becoming a powerful, wealthy part of society. Gatsby lived in a beautiful home with tons of indulgences and had extravagant parties with all of his "friends". People from New York during the story would do absolutely anything to go to his parties, which proves that Gatsby was a popular man, someone who people admired and envied at the same time. Who would not want that? That is the definition of the American dream. In my opinion, I personally do not think Gatsby attained the American dream. If Gatsby attained the American dream, he would of had Daisy. One aspect missing from his "American dream" was loved ones to surround himself with, the most important part of life. If Gatsby...
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