Jay Gatsby was a character whose goal was to become rich and marry the girl he had loved for years. In a way, he succeeded, but at the cost of himself. throughout the book, you learn more about Gatsby and the lengths he would go to for the people he loves and cares about. Money was never an issue and he was known for getting anybody anything they wanted. But one thing he wanted but never got was to be remembered and truly loved, he was only an affair partner and friends with only Nick and one other. Gatsby longed to be remembered by someone and missed when he was gone evidenced by his lavish parties, reinvention of himself, and pursuit of his true love, Daisy.
He wanted to be somebody people see him and see power, wealth, hard work, mystery, and possibly even jealousy. He wanted to leave a remark on people he has helped and be known for being a kind man who loves and cares for his friends. Gatsby even thought Daisy loved him until the very end especially when his phone rang. He most likely hoped and thought it was Daisy calling him to leave Tom, he felt like the first choice by his love until the very end. But in reality, his “friends” never saw him that way. Everyone saw him as a madman full of mystery, someone they could use for their own gain. Even worse the one he loved never chose him no matter what he did, she always chose Tom over him no matter how abusive and absurd his Morales were. Gatsby choosing the wrong things to focus on to be remembered led to his funeral being empty and his true self being forgotten by the masses. He died being known as a murderer, a mysterious man who people will soon forget.
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Add Yours →This is a really insightful analysis of Gatsby’s character. The tragic irony at the heart of his pursuit is perfect. Your observation about Gatsby being remembered as a ‘murderer’ and a ‘mysterious man’ is also crucial. It highlights how his carefully crafted image ultimately backfired. Instead of being seen as a ‘kind man who loves and cares for his friends,’ he became a figure of scandal and suspicion. His attempt to reinvent himself, erase his past, and become the man Daisy deserved obliterated his true self.