If The Great Gatsby characters were sharks, what sharks would they be?
These sharks are determined by a couple of things:
1) Ecology – the shark’s/ character’s outward impact on the environment/ other people
2) Behavior- common actions done by characters/sharks
3) Personality- Personality of person/sharks (yes, sharks have personalities!)
Tom: Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
The Oceanic Whitetip shark is a primarily solitary predator. They move very slowly and live in relatively deep open oceans. Although they are solitary, they have been seen following other predators and sharks in the sea and fighting to take their food. There are a couple of species that tend to follow these sharks like Remoras and the Mahi Mahi fish. The Oceanic Whitetip also tends to enter a ‘freezing frenzy’ state. This is where the shark is so overwhelmed by the amount of prey they have that they will uncontrollably thrash and attack anything around them including other sharks.
I think Tom matches this shark very well. He takes advantage of most people he meets and makes it worse for everyone. He has a reputation by the public even if he is not really a good person. He blatantly cheats on Daisy with Myrtle and still has to go and criticize Daisy for being with Gatsby.
BONUS SHARK FACT:
Longimanus means ‘long hands’ in Latin!
Daisy: Thresher Shark (Alopias pelagicus)
Thresher sharks commonly live in shallow waters across most of the world. These sharks have extremely long caudal fins that they use to whack small fish to stun and eat them. They are usually solitary, but will sometimes form groups of two to three other sharks to hunt with. They also tend to fully jump out of the water. This is known as breaching, and it is not known why they do this.
I think Daisy really represents this shark based on the species’ interpretation. These sharks are beautiful and mostly calm but could really do some damage if they wanted to. Their behaviors are not really understood and seem confusing compared to other sharks, but that is just what makes them more interesting.
BONUS SHARK FACT:
Thresher sharks can jump up to 10ft while breaching!
Gatsby: Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
The biggest impact caused by Bull sharks is their reputation that changed the societal viewing of sharks. Bull sharks caused the fear that people feel of sharks today. Movies like Jaws were based on the original stories of Bull shark attacks. Despite this reputation, Bull sharks are actually incredibly unique creatures. One of their unique abilities is the ability to live and thrive in entirely freshwater. They do this by regulating the Sodium in their own digestive track and systems to conserve and make salt. Using this ability, they travel up freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. They go incredibly far, and have been found as inland as Iowa! Oklahoma has also seen these sharks near the Red River and Lake Texoma. They are durable and determined creatures.
Gatsby also has quite a bit of a terrible reputation. Most of it is based on nothing, but rumors still spread. However, Gatsby stays strong and keeps going everytime he fails until he achieves what he wants.
BONUS SHARK FACT:
Bull sharks throw up their stomachs when threatened to escape predators!
Nick: Remora fish (Remora remora)
Ok this one was cheating, but their relationship with sharks really describes what Nick is to them. Remoras are small fish that stick to the side of sharks, turtles, and dolphins to hitch a ride and get free food. They have a powerful suction cup formation on their face that creates a vacuum. Since Remoras need to constantly move to breathe, they can stick themselves to their host and just relax. They are able to eat the scraps of their host’s meals and detach themselves whenever they feel threatened. The sharks and other animals don’t mind the Remoras being there and sometimes benefit by Remoras eating any skin parasites on their hosts.
I thought Nick was a Remora based on how useless he really is in the book. He just kind of follows the other characters around. When things get messy for them, Nick just watches and then leaves to go back home. He provides some emotional support for some characters but other than that he has no real purpose.
BONUS SHARK FACT:
Remoras can stay attached to their hosts for up to three months!
Should I make a part two?