In what ways does Nicks discussion of Gatsbys party and Gatsby himself highlight the idea of identity, the romantic fantasy of self and the idealised self?

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In what ways does Nick’s discussion of Gatsby’s party and Gatsby himself highlight the idea of identity, the romantic fantasy of self and the idealised self?

The presentation of Gatsby as a creation of himself and others imaginations is a main theme in the novel. As the novel is an allegory for the American Dream, the need for a character that can supposedly create his own life is important as the Dream was that anyone could become successful. Though in Gatsby’s case, it is just a facade, such as the American Dream was. The reader is encouraged, through Nick’s idealising and fantasising vision, to get caught up into Gatsby’s romantic self construction. But the mix of irony and romanticism in the narrative help us stay detached from Gatsby’s personality and show us how Gatsby’s self construction ultimately leads to his destruction.

The first real presentation of Gatsby’s identity and his belief of the idealised self is when Nick sees his house preparing for the party. It seems as though everything is as it should be for someone of Gatsby’s social standing, the full orchestra setting up showing someone with taste. Yet it is not until Nick is in the party that you realise that something is off. His orchestra are playing Vladmir Tostoff’s ‘Jazz History of the World.’ Gatsby is a figure for the Jazz Age, but he is also tied by social constraints that he believes means he must have an orchestra. Both things are correct, but when looked at together, they just don’t fit. It seems to be a challenge by jazz music to be a serious rival to classical music. This could never happen showing how traditional wealth will always come out on top, no matter how hard you try to influence things. This act of being too good is also vivid in Gatsby’s recollection of his youth. The things he tells Nick are all a bit too correct. It seems true on the surface, part of the romanticism of Gatsby, but when looked at thoroughly you see it is wrong. His account of war is wrong and the medal he was given was given to soldiers who came from Princeton, yet he supposedly came from Oxford.

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This idea of creating his own past to create an identity is what makes him appealing to the other people. As he has a less than complete history, people fill in the gaps with what they want. ‘I think he killed a man.’ People fantasise what they want to believe to increase the romantic personality of Gatsby. But he also contributes to people’s opinions of him and his own self identity. He has an extravagant need to embellish his so called ‘associates.’ ‘I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked my name and address – within a week ...

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