Why Do People Succeed In The Great Gatsby

Not only is avarice a major issue, but the likes of pride and envy lurk in the murky waters of the Long Island Sound. The previous offenders, repeat again here. Starting with Gatsby, who embodies the classic rags to riches stories of the time. When his past is brought out from behind a curtain, it is discovered that it may be not so classic after all. James Gatz admires the well-to-do people, like Dan Cody.

Everyone has moments where they desire to revisit the past- correct a mistake, relive the excitement, change what could have been. We all have moments like that. It might be a fleeting feeling or a consistently recurring thought, but seldom do we dedicate ourselves to the unattainable and changing times. In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the plight of Jay Gatsby and his attempt to bring back the past is explored. He aggressively, or arguably, passionately fights to regain what once was.

Gatsby’s dreams and aspirations in life are rather interesting and amazing as he goes about his life in the book. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald helps highlight the social, moral, and political issue that were very present during the 1920’s and today. Gatsby is the focus of the book as before the book began, he was an ex-soldier who came to wealth by some rather illegal ways. Daisy a married woman is his person of interest, who was his ex-lover 5 years before the book started. Gatsby’s actions, and words demonstrate a clear obsession with Daisy that seems to have no end.

Jay Gatsby is a dream of James Gatz, a boy who grew up in an impoverished family and had an ill-defined past in rural North Dakota. Since his childhood, James resented poverty and wanted to be wealthy and prosperous- something that he would achieve later in his life, but would never enjoy. The path to richness is full of disappointments and misfortunes, but even after reaching the goal, some never acquire the desired happiness. Northrop Frye, one of the most influential literary critics of the twentieth century and the author of Anatomy of Criticism, discusses many aspects of a tragic hero in his essay “Tragic Fictional Modes.” Many of Frye’s ideas can be applied to the tragic protagonist of Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, James Gatz,

The Great Gatsby shows Fitzgerald’s view and portrayal of the effect of money on people’s lives. Fitzgerald implies that being wealthy can lead to many great things but that money is everything but happiness and even with Gatsby’s wealth and imaginative mind, he still can not satisfy the image of Daisy since she nor any other women could ever be the girl who he desires. (Durkin). Gatsby wishes that his wealth would bring him the happiness and satisfaction he desires but instead brings him to his deathbed.

The impact of great wealth is first seen through the character of Nick Carraway, the narrator and Gatsby’s neighbor. Nick is thrown into a world of money, parties, and lavish lifestyle when he moves next door to Gatsby on Long Island in the summer of 1922. Coming from Minnesota after fighting in World War I and attending Yale, Nick Carraway is a kind-hearted, open-minded man. He comes to New York to sell bonds and settles in next door to Gatsby’s mansion. Gatsby’s lifestyle is exhilarating to Carraway.

Gatsby is an ample example of success in the novel. The American dream in the 1920s consisted strictly of success. Gatsby is seen as a member of the resourceful, athletic, restless Americans; striving to make the nation more productive as a whole. The problem is, Nick sees the American nation as something different. He sees it beaten down like Mr. Wilson, or rich and careless like Tom.

The American Dream is what most people strive for in life. Everyone wants to be successful and have no worries in the world. The problem is, actually achieving the American Dream. The Great Gatsby, written by F Scott Fitzgerald, shows how the character Gatsby is represented by the American Dream. Gatsby demonstrates the American Dream by being wealthy, having the determination, and the effort to fit into the lifestyle of the time period.

Oscar Wilde once said “Few people truly live most simply exist”. In the book, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald Gatsby lie dead, he lived and was able to recognize his ambitions. Jonathan Swift once said “May you live everyday of your life”. Some people just live but do they go and achieve or realize what their ambitions are? Gatsby fulfilled three big ambitions, but there are still others that he didn’t achieve, he fulfilled the ambition of acquiring money, experiencing love, and gaining popularity.

The American dream today is nothing but an insignificant belief that has been forgotten. But in The Great Gatsby, it is definitely something worth fighting for. Fitzgerald portrays Jay Gatsby as one of the only characters who truly attempts to grasp his dream of success. In this peculiar novel, Gatsby’s intention to fulfill his dream is distinct to no other. His motivation to win back Daisy, the continuous progress of his social status, and his obsession for excessive luxury will all guarantee him attaining his American dream, but most importantly, attaining Daisy.

The downfall of Gatsby was caused by no other than Gatsby himself, he had wealth and respectable name that people throughout west egg praised. Gatsby was loved by all for his lavish parties, making sure everyone had a good time especially Daisy, Gatsby loved Daisy. Gatsby's was responsible for his downfall because he couldn't tell the difference between illusion, romance and reality When Gatsby returned home from the war he thought that to win daisy’s hand he would have to be rich. Gatsby bought a mansion so he can be right across the bay from her, but there is one problem though she is married to Tom Buchanan. Gatsby loved Daisy, saying she was the first “nice” girl he had ever met (Fitzgerald 148).Tom confronts Gatsby questioning he went to oxford and how he gets money, since Gatsby doesn’t tell people very much, argument breaks out and it ends with Gatsby telling tom she never loved you, she loves me (Fitzgerald 130).

The characters in the novel pretend that they have their lives all figured out, but through their successes their downfalls and emptiness can be seen, to prove that money cannot buy happiness. Jay Gatsby is the newest and upcoming star in New York during the 1920’s. Through his business and inheritance he is one of the richest men of his time. One may think that his abundance of wealth would lead him to be eternally happy, but he is the opposite. Gatsby longs for his love of Daisy, which is his personal American Dream.

The hero represents a person’s unconscious self, one that eventually manifests into their identity. Furthermore, each hero undergoes a journey, one that takes them through the three rites of passage: separation, initiation, and return. The ideas of Joseph Campbell and psychiatrist Carl Jung combine to create a series of alluring archetypes that have been historically accurate throughout numerous books and movies. The idea of the hero’s journey is present in The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Of Mice and Men. Each of these novels communicates the physical journey in a different way, but the psychology behind each step remains relatively consistent.

The Character of Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby There is always something hindering Jay Gatsby from obtaining the "American dream". Jay Gatsby loved Daisy Buchanan, but he couldn't have her because he was once a part of the lower class. Daisy is a part of old money upper class, but Gatsby had to work for his wealth. Gatsby is never entirely accepted into the upper class, but he tries so hard to get something that he can never have that he loses his life in the process. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby the Character of Jay Gatsby conveys the theme that the American dream is unattainable.