With reference to critical assessments and different readings of the novel such as the ones below discuss the presentation of Gatsby and how readers might evaluate the central character and his dream.
With reference to critical assessments and different readings of the novel such as the ones below discuss the presentation of Gatsby and how readers might evaluate the central character and his dream.
When discussing the presentation of Mr Jay Gatsby in Fitzgerald’s novel it is important to look at the views of all of the characters as well as those of critics and readers. Gatsby’s name precedes him in the novel and the readers and Nick himself are not introduced to the title character until chapter 3. Although Nick believes that he has a sighting of Gatsby at the end of the first chapter, an actual meeting does not yet occur. At this point however Nick has already created his own image of Gatsby based on the small amount of information that he has received from Jordan Baker. As this is the only opinion we have to base our own on at this point, as readers we are inclined to agree with Nick that Gatsby is a very rich and dominant man with more power than sense, “…come out to determine what share was his of our local heavens.”
As we learn more about the character it becomes obvious that he is living in the past and through an ongoing dream. It is argued that Gatsby is “great because he is dignified and ennobled by his dream. He becomes a kind of Promethean idealist”. Although this is a very valid view others prefer to take a less sympathetic view of the main character and feel that his obsession with the past and Daisy is somewhat more dark and disturbing. It is because of this that the clashing views of Gatsby occur, whether that be that he is simply in love with a woman whom he strives to be with, or that he has a more sinister obsession with this woman and will not give up until he has her. Alternatively, with the use of the word “orgastic” in the last paragraph of the novel, it could be that Gatsby’s desire is very much more a sexual one. Fitzgerald uses this word to show an individual sense of sexual satisfaction, of which Gatsby is apparently striving to reach. However, in the 2001 film adaptation this word was changed to “orgiastic” which suggests a more global satisfaction at a much higher level, which is perhaps a link to Little America and how the original American settlers must have felt when they first arrived in the country. This theory links Daisy with America and shows the possible contrast between Gatsby’s desires for Daisy and his desires for his country. It is important to remember, however, that Fitzgerald uses the word “orgastic” for a reason, firstly to perhaps highlight his selfishness and desire to make only himself happy and secondly to highlight his overwhelming sexual desire for this woman. Critics seem to be divided on this and many different opinions of Gatsby’s true motive for wanting to ensure Daisy as his wife have been put forward. Personally I feel that it is apparent that Gatsby has this strong sexual urge which he wishes to fulfil with Daisy, but I also feel that this is not directed in an obsessive way, simply that he is lost in his own passion so does not realise how far this desire has taken him from reality. When Daisy hits Myrtle when driving Gatsby’s car, he covers for her. I think that this is some evidence towards showing his love for her and that it isn’t all about the sexual attraction he has. Also towards the end of the novel when Gatsby realises that he cannot have his love he simply retreats to his house dreaming of what could have been and feeling sorry for himself. Although it is apparent that Gatsby’s urge to have Daisy is a very strong one, I don’t feel that it is so much obsessive as desperate. Essentially this desire and desperation seems to be related more to moving from the world as it is in the present into something better, which is what Gatsby strives for when he is wooing Daisy. Gatsby’s desire lies with Daisy however Nick recognises that she cannot fulfil all of his desires. Because he has lived with this dream for so long the reality could never live up to his expectations, which agrees with the way that one critic describes Gatsby’s love, as being “adolescent”. It is for these reasons that Nick does not believe that Gatsby could ever reach this “other world” and so will forever live within his own dream. Whatever this “something better” is is unclear, but it is evident that Gatsby feels some sort of intensity towards achieving his goal.
