Examples Of Myrtle In The Great Gatsby
What happens when the very dream you are pursuing turns out to be a merciless illusion? Shattering the lives and hope of its pursuers, the American Dream is like a double-edged sword cutting deep into the lives of everyone who tries to pursue it. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the ways in which obtaining the American dream drives the behavior and actions of characters such as Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson, leading them to prioritize their own desires and ambitions above all else, ultimately resulting in tragic consequences. However, if you recognize the American Dream as a facade like Nick, you can in turn live a much more gratifying life. The disastrous outcomes for Gatsby and Myrtle as well as the fulfilled life …show more content…
For example, in chapter one, Nick reflects on one of his unique qualities with the quote, “I'm inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores”. In this quote, the meaning of the phrase “I’m inclined to reserve all judgment” suggests that Nick has very strong morals and that he always gives people the benefit of the doubt. However, because of this, he has been made a “victim of not a few veteran bores” implying that he has been taken advantage of multiple times by people pursuing the American Dream; furthermore indicating that people pursuing the American Dream are often dishonest. Although Nick often gets taken advantage of by other people, he lives a much more gratifying life than the people who take advantage of him because he recognizes that pursuing the American Dream leads to moral corruption. Nick’s best friend in the novel is Gatsby who unlike Nick relentlessly pursues the American Dream. Gatsby’s belief in the American Dream is so sound that he tries to pull Nick into pursuing it by offering him an opportunity to make money by illegal means. When presented with the opportunity, Nick reflected on this offer: “I realize now that under different circumstances that conversation might have been one of the crises of my life. But, because the offer was obviously and tactlessly for a service to be rendered, I had no choice except to cut him off there”. This quote shows a lot about Nick’s personality and values. While he is definitely tempted by the offer of making easy money, Nick’s morals overpower his desires. Nick’s complete honesty and strong morals are what make him live a happier and more fulfilling life than Gatsby or Myrtle's; so, when presented with the
How Does Fitzgerald Tell The Story In Chapter 1 Of The Great Gatsby
1119 Words | 5 PagesNick’s impression of Gatsby
Examples Of Myrtle In The Great Gatsby
1119 Words | 5 PagesThroughout the story, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby, the main character, attempts to raise himself to the status where it would be acceptable to be with Daisy Buchanan. This proves impossible as the only way Gatsby can move up is economically, and although Gatsby becomes quite wealthy, he could never be with Daisy because he lacks the social status that comes with “old money” and was necessary to be in her league. It is also this social status, mixed with certain circumstances of the event, that allows Daisy and Tom to escape the consequences of Myrtle’s death. Gatsby wants nothing more than to have Daisy again.
Examples Of Myrtle In The Great Gatsby
1526 Words | 7 PagesIn fact, the lower class member sought to live in the same luxurious lifestyle, but each in his/her own way. As for Gatsby he seemed to be engaged in an obscure business that enabled him to gain so much money in just five years, he disdained his family and their financial status and was full of contempt. But Myrtle has chosen another path to express her anger with her status; she thought cheating was acceptable as long as it enabled her to live the lavish life she dreamed of. However, Tom never wanted to be seen in public with her; for example in the train to New York" So Tom Buchanan and his girl and I went up together to New York—or not quite together, for Mrs. Wilson sat discreetly in another car. Tom deferred that much to the sensibilities of those East Eggers who might be on the train.
Examples Of Myrtle In The Great Gatsby
253 Words | 2 PagesYou are one of two people in this world. Based on the choices you make you are either a good or bad person. Your actions are evidence of your thinking. Our choices in life define if we are good or bad people.
Examples Of Obsession In The Great Gatsby
1008 Words | 5 PagesNick takes this to heart, when he first meets Gatsby he admits that Gatsby is a likable person and is in awe of his wealth. Yet he does not yet see him as a fully developed person. It is not until the end when he learns about Gatsby’s struggles to get to the point at which he is at that he gains a sense of understanding. Yet, Nick is one of the first to notice Gatsby’s destructive nature to achieve his goal of being with Daisy. Nick also has a disdain for the ones who were born rich and did not value the privilege that they have been handed on a silver platter.
Similarities Between Gattaca And The Great Gatsby
1601 Words | 7 PagesGatsby himself becomes entangled in this world of wealth, power, and corruption as he relentlessly pursues the American dream. His extravagant parties, involvement in illegal activities, and questionable income of money reflect the dominant societal values of the time. The society's embrace of materialism and disregard for ethical considerations play a significant role in Gatsby's eventual downfall and tragic fate. Following Gatsby's murder, Nick grows increasingly disillusioned with the lifestyle surrounding him, particularly with the Buchanan couple. In Chapter 9, Nick states, "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.
Why Is Honesty Important In The Great Gatsby
70 Words | 1 PagesWhile Nick emphasizes the importance of hard work, he also values integrity to achieve his goals. In The Great Gatsby, Nick describes himself as “one of the few honest people that I have ever known” (Gatsby 59). Compulsive liars desire to get ahead of people through their manipulative words, but Nick understands the moral perspective and sees that the only way to flourish as a person is to remain sincere.
The Role Of Deception In The Great Gatsby
944 Words | 4 PagesNick's steadfast allegiance stems from his admiration for Gatsby. While Nick acknowledges Gatsby's ulterior motives in his pursuit of Daisy, he still finds solace in the attention and care Gatsby directed towards him. Nick's bias blinds him to the distinction between reality and
First Impressions Of Tom Buchanan In The Great Gatsby
751 Words | 4 PagesGatsby’s goal to become rich by winning Daisy gives Nick a bad impression about him and Nick thinks of him as someone who is somewhat selfish in a way that he only cares about his own financial and social
How Does Daisy's Past Change Throughout The Great Gatsby
864 Words | 4 PagesNick’s impression of Gatsby is ironic for it is not Gatsby’s wealth and social status that fascinates him but instead his foolish emotion of love. Through his secret, most likely illegal scandals, he pretends to belong to the same social class as Tom Buchanan and his wife Daisy, Gatsby’s one love. If he wants a girl like Daisy Buchanan, he knows he could not be the broke farmer from Minnesota he once was. His poverty stricken prior life holds no value for him and his dream. His penniless past fueled his entry into the army.
Examples Of Privilege In The Great Gatsby
1093 Words | 5 PagesThis importance was not an idea shared by the person who called him, therefore, Nick chooses to stand by his friend who deserves to be remembered instead of proceeding a call with an aristocratic woman who unjustly equated Mr. Gatsby worth with his
Examples Of Eyewitness In The Great Gatsby
788 Words | 4 PagesHowever, Nick does not question Gatsby’s unethical opinion nor draw attention to Gatsby’s own illegal involvement in “service[s] to be rendered,” thus giving the reader a more favorable impression of Gatsby (83). Altogether, the reader only sees the positives of Gatsby and, therefore, favor him as a character who is just searching for
Examples Of Decent In The Great Gatsby
921 Words | 4 Pages(59). But as with Gatsby, Nick leads a false sense of selflessness as proven by his earlier statement “…frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon.” (1) So Nick, our self-proclaimed unbiased and honest narrator partakes in seemingly dishonest acts? Suddenly it appears that our pool of truly “decent” characters is rather
How Does Nick Drink In The Great Gatsby Essay
1444 Words | 6 PagesYet on key thing he states is “but he knew I lied” (36). This moral switch from an honest man to a liar can be seen as the reason why Nick does not switch. This moral is also why, when offered an illegal job by Gatsby, Nick turns it down. Nick feels no need for wealth and no need to party, a great foil character to all the rich beings of both east and west
Argumentative Essay On The Great Gatsby
803 Words | 4 PagesThroughout the course of the book, Nick starts off open-minded, but gradually becomes disgusted with everyone he meets. Nick saw mostly everyone only thinking of themselves and trying to pursue "The American Dream", a staple of the 1920s. The one person Nick liked was Gatsby, because
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