What is so Great about Gatsby? The word great in the title gives the expectation to the reader that Gatsby is going to be a marvellous character with strong morals, great achievements and a desire to change and improve things.

What is so Great about Gatsby?

The word great in the title gives the expectation to the reader that Gatsby is going to be a marvellous character with strong morals, great achievements and a desire to change and improve things. This expectation of him is not fulfilled and the character presented is not the one the title suggests. This is not to say that Gatsby is not great, he is in many ways remarkable in terms of his motivation, determination and ability to succeed. He has achieved more than most could ever dream of and yet he is still unhappy, and it is this unhappiness which leads to his downfall. Gatsby is most definitely great and in reading the book this is recognisable but, it is hard to pinpoint why. In this essay I will look at different aspects of Gatsby’s character and compare him with other characters in an attempt to identify what is great about him.

L. Marx in an essay ‘Pastoralism in America’ noted that it is ‘by comparison with the “rotten crowd” of people who typify society Gatsby is meant to earn our approval’ (59). This is very much the case, whilst Gatsby does make mistakes during the book it is with great intentions. Other characters are portrayed as undertaking purely selfish aims, specifically to benefit themselves. This fact evokes support and sympathy from the reader towards Gatsby as we recognise this.

It is therefore important that we get to know other characters in the book before we meet Gatsby so we can make comparisons between them and Gatsby. The first person we are introduced to in the book is Nick, the narrator, and it is via him that we obtain all our knowledge about Gatsby. When Nick first recalls Gatsby it is with fondness, he describes Gatsby as having ‘something gorgeous about him… (a) gift of hope and romantic readiness’. This tells the reader that Gatsby is going to posses these qualities and we expect that they will be displayed to us. But shortly after Nick goes on to describe a ‘foul dust… prey(ing)’ on Gatsby. We are then made aware the story is tragic and know that the hero of the book, Gatsby, is going to meet a sad end before we even meet his character. The fact that we are told this at the beginning allows us to examine his demise as it happens. No matter how pleased we are of his achievements we are always aware that he will fail.

From Nick’s initial description and the title Gatsby is pictured in our minds as heroic and great but we do not know why. When Nick goes back to the time when he first moves to West Egg neither does he; it is very far into the story that we learn how Gatsby made his fortune and even then we only know very vaguely. It is therefore clear that it is not wealth that makes Gatsby great but something else, something mysterious and almost magical, he is a symbol of something different that has been able to succeed in a world which was determined to see him not do. Gatsby was going to change Nick’s perception of the world, he was make Nick go from seeing him as someone who ‘represented everything for which (he had) unaffected scorn’ to seeing him as ‘Great’. This fact is a huge achievement in itself and we know that Gatsby must have some very special qualities to have influenced such a dramatic change in opinion.

Nick contrasts starkly with Gatsby’s character, he impresses upon the reader a lack of motivation and ambition; coming from a ‘well-to-do’ family it appears he has no desire to make his own stamp in the world and is content joining the ‘bond business’ not to achieve great things but because he ‘supposed it could support one more man’. Nick is someone who has allowed his life and upbringing to shape him whereas Gatsby is someone who has shaped his own life, despite his upbringing. This is I believe one of the fundamental factors that makes him ‘great’. He challenges the concepts of class and status and even though he is ultimately unsuccessful he is a strong character who is prepared to do anything to achieve his unobtainable goal.

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Gatsby has made himself into a man of wealth and possessions and whilst he has more of these than any other character in the book they have something that he desires. Not Daisy, although he desires her, but what she stands for and that is family, upbringing and class. No matter how successful he becomes he can never obtain them, so instead he creates them in him mind. This is the fundamental factors that ‘makes Gatsby tragic…(he) believes that the past can be wiped out…that a man can create himself anew by the exercise of his own will and energy’ (39). If we are to take this comment literally then Gatsby’s continual pursuit to change the past is draining him of energy slowly and killing him which is exactly what happens. Nick describes how his ‘dream… seemed so close…he did not know it was already behind him.’ Whilst it saddens us that he was never able to achieve his goal it is refreshing and inspiring to the reader to know that he never gave up trying.

He created in his mind this character of Gatsby which is so over the top it is a caricature of the upper classes. In his mind and imagination he is from a wealthy family and has had a privileged upbringing, he’s even gone to Oxford to be educated. He is not happy for people to know that he is responsible entirely for his own wealth, rather than regarding this as an achievement he tries to hide the fact in order to make himself more acceptable to society. He is in fact an example of true success and yet he doesn’t want this to be known and regards it as almost shameful. This idea contrasts starkly with the positive image of self made success portrayed in Willa Cather’s, My Antonia, in this book we learn to appreciate the characters’ poverty and are pleased at their future success which is achieved without help, using only ingenuity and hard work.

In particular we look at the character of Tiny, who from having no money or status manages to achieve both of these, she does not hide the fact either. One similarity that she and Gatsby do share, however, is that no matter how successful they become they always want more. We recognise this when Tiny says that all she is really interested in now is ‘making more money’. People always want more than they have and what they dream of having, because once they have achieved their dream they will simply dream of having something else. We know therefore that Gatsby will never be happy, especially since what he hopes to achieve is unachievable, he dreams of going back to the past to a time that never was, to a time when Daisy loved him. In this ambition he is doomed to fail.

The first time Nick sees Gatsby standing outside his huge house he is in ‘shadow’. This is symbolic for several reasons firstly his lack of a grasp upon reality means he is effectively in the dark, he is convinced that he will win back Daisy and that he really is Jay Gatsby; the shadow also acts like a mask of his identity just like the persona he has created for himself; it also shows there is a darkness in his life, he is unhappy despite the image he gives off. We therefore view Gatsby initially as allusive and mysterious and are as intrigued as Nick is to find out more, to discover the ‘real’ Gatsby.

It is interesting then that the first time the reader is introduced to Gatsby in person that it goes by unnoticed to us and to Nick. There is a man simply described as being ‘about my age’ and quite unremarkable. This is out of the ordinary for many reasons; firstly that we have to wait a long time to be introduced to Gatsby and yet he is the books hero and title character, he is built up in our minds as something different and almost mythical. Yet here we see a very human image presented, he is an army man, which, immediately displays a sense of mortality about him, his persona may be a myth but he is physically very real and there is nothing which distinguishes him in that way from anybody else. We do not at this point get an impression that Gatsby is great and neither does he himself despite the character being his own invention he is quick to criticise himself saying ‘I’m not a very good host’. This shows to us that he is not without fault and that he is aware of those faults. It also enforces a new image of the character, the man who was previously allusive and unobtainable now appears very ordinary. It is the reader’s first indication that there may be something going on beneath the surface of his character which is far from ordinary.

We learn more about this through his interaction with the other main characters and with people in general. Although at first it appears as though he keeps himself very much to himself he actually has interaction with all the other main characters. And for this reason we are able to view Gatsby in many different roles. To Nick he becomes a friend, in this role Gatsby is generous and loyal it is said ‘he would never so much as look as a friends wife’. He takes Nick out flying, to expensive restaurants and has no hesitation about spending his money on him. To the reader this displays to us a kind side of Gatsby; I do not get the impression that this kindness is fake either, he seems lonely in the world he has created for himself and is keen to let people in so that he doesn’t have to be by himself. This kindness and humanity should be respected as despite his loss of identity he is still human.

In his interaction with Tom we see Gatsby’s relationship with an enemy; although their meetings are brief there is a lot of tension and competition between the two of them. They like to compare what they have achieved in life and how they have achieved their successes. Tom is unlike Gatsby he is not loyal, this is impressed upon us by the fact he is having an affair and lies about it to both Daisy and the woman whom his affair is with telling her that ‘(Daisy) is a catholic’ so he cannot divorce her. This displays to us Tom’s lack of devotion to anyone other than himself and he does not seem to show much emotion when Myrtle dies, to him she appears just another toy. To Gatsby, Daisy is much more, she is his soul ambition in life and he has spent his whole life trying to obtain her, he is so devoted that he has given his life to her and received nothing back in return.

Unfortunately for Gatsby the Daisy that he remembers no longer exists, if she ever did, other than in his memories and imagination. Their meeting alone is what the whole book has led to and initially, to Gatsby, all seems well; believing that the ‘past (can be) repeated’ and recaptured. Whilst the two of them are inside the house this may be have even seemed true to Daisy, they could have forgotten everything that had happened previously but once out of those surroundings and back in Daisy’s house where the effects of the past can be seen, the sad truth of reality came crashing down and the fantasy that Gatsby had held in his mind for such a long time was destroyed. This need to go back to the past is the major fault in Gatsby’s character because it is unobtainable no matter how hard he tries to achieve it he never will, and he will always be, in his mind, a failure. This obsession is compared to a ‘boat against the current’ at the end of the book’ and this describes the constant struggle Gatsby has faced, the challenge of reaching his desired destination is unrewarding, tiring and ultimately he has to give up.

One of the reasons that the past is always the main desire of Gatsby is that the character is a creation made in the past. Gatsby was the invention of a 17 year old boy named James Gatz who wanted to turn his life around, to make a success of his life and to get the girl he was in love with to marry him. It has been these two aims that have driven him since the creation of Gatsby but they are aims of the past. The character is a childlike adaptation of what an upper class gentleman would be and so compared to those born and bred into the upper classes his possessions actually appear ‘vast (and) vulgar’. The world that he has created for himself interacts with the real one but will never really be part of it, it is merely another of his creations. No matter what his achievements he is merely a spectator to his success because he can never truly engage with it whilst he masks his identity.

His appeal lies in his own insecurity no matter how bad he appears he wants to

improve himself. To show to us that he is worth something and that he has managed great things. He is not an arrogant man like Tom and he is not un-likeable to the reader who, has been let into his web of lies. We see that he has done bad things but he has done it for what he believes to be a good reason and we share in his pain when things do not go as was planned. Nick recognises this too even though he grows to dislike Gatsby he is also quick to defend him and when everyone else turns against him he reassures Gatsby that he is ‘worth the whole damn bunch of them put together.’ He is to Nick and the reader a confused but very worthwhile man whose heart appears to be in the right place and no matter how bad his actions may seem his intentions are as pure and innocent as the childlike creation of the character of Gatsby.

Gatsby continually aims to impress Daisy to prove to her that he has become everything she desires in a man. He describes her voice is described as being ‘full of money’ and he is keen to show her that he has this and can fulfil her passion for money. When he takes her to his house he re-evaluates all of his possessions by what she says about them. He is insecure about everything he has achieved; his greatness is measured by how great she believes he is and in his mind always will be. He displays to her his collection of shirts ‘throwing them, one by one, before (her)’as a gaudy display of his achievements. These shirts symbolise the very character of Gatsby, they are expensive and decorative and designed to hide what is really underneath, they represent one of the masks of his true identity. It is notable therefore that he shows these to Daisy, he does not want her to see the real him, he wants her to see the Jay Gatsby of his imagination, to put forward to her a great performance. She in return acts like a great audience and cries her fake tears. The difference between the two of them is that her intentions are not entirely pure and do not possess a childlike innocence she is, in fact, very calculated and selfish. She merely desires more money for herself and if she shows love for anybody or anything in the book then it is money.

In conclusion Gatsby appears great at the start because he possesses a lot and looks to be someone people admire, but the bitter truth is quite different. He does not have any real friends except, perhaps, Nick and this is not entirely his own fault. He took the task upon himself to achieve great things and he achieved that aim without hurting anybody else. But people wanted to see him lose what he had fought to obtain because it threatened their own positions in society. Any relationship they appeared to hold with him were merely for their own benefit and Gatsby was too naïve to realise this. So he is great because despite all his masks he manages to hold more truth and depth of character than those around him, his act is harmless. Those people around Gatsby who pretend to be friends and pretend to be there for him; their act is not harmless, they are out to destroy him and even through his death they do not achieve this aim. They wanted Gatsby to be revealed for what he was, a fraud, and were so determined that this happened that even when he died they held their grudges. By not turning up to Gatsby’s funeral instead of burying his persona they enabled it to live on as a legend. He never does not get Daisy but his mystery is retained, nobody really knows how he made his money and the myths and rumours he thrived on are still spread about him. The character of Gatsby that was created could never be destroyed and neither could his achievements.

Bibliography

Bercovitch, Sacvan and Jehlen, Myra ed. Ideology and Classic American Literature, (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1986)
Cather, Willa, My Antonia [1918], (London, Virago, 2004)
McCormick, John, American History 1919-1932 a comparative history, (London, Routlegde & Kegan Paul,1971)

Sacvan Bercovitch and Myra Jehlen ed. Ideology and Classic American Literature, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1986

John McCormick, American History 1919-1932 a comparative history, London, Routlegde & Kegan Paul,1971

Willa Cather, My Antonia [1918], London, Virago, 2004

Peer Reviews

Here's what a star student thought of this essay

sydneyhopcroft

20th of Aug 2012

Quality of writing

The Quality of Written Communication is very good; only very minor errors are made as a result of perhaps not re-checking as rigorously as is possible, but no matter as the clarity of the essay's analysis is not compromised. The spelling, grammar and punctuation are all acceptable and show a candidate who writes with flair and confidence when analysing literature.

Level of analysis

The Level of Analysis is very good. Though not exhaustive, the candidate considers a number of theories as to the title calling Gatsby "Great". It is a common misconception that this is an ironic move and that Fitzgerald is saying there was in fact nothing admirable about Gatsby. But due to this candidate close attention to the methods in which Fitzgerald allows Nick to give us information about Gatsby, it is clear to from the start see this candidate is competent enough that they can identify the true meaning of the title. Everything written is valid generally, though some specific details compromise the overall effectiveness, for instance calling Gatsby "childlike". Whilst yes, this may seem a logical assumption, perhaps the word "naive" would suit the analysis better ("naive" was used earlier in the essay, so whilst I recognise this is probably what you meant, other examiners may not so always be sure that you are saying exactly what you want to say, because Gatsby does not have the characteristics of a child at all - quite possible the one-dimensional simplicity of a child who desperately wants something, yes, but this must be made clearer). One piece of analysis that I've always thought about when considering the title is that the use of the word "Great" recalls many of the stage names for great illusionists of the time. Magic shows and magicians were the dominant breed of live entertainers at the time and were renowned for conjuring grand, elaborate tricks to fool the eyes of thousands of baying onlookers, but were often very unprofessional and cheating behind their extravagant appearance and stage presence. And so is it possible that Fitzgerald is drawing comparison between Gatsby's efforts to reinvent himself as a wealthy socialite wearing a veneer of vulgar ostentation and the same misleading guise worn by magicians and illusionists of the time?

Response to question

This is an excellently-formed piece of coursework. It's analysis is good, and it draws a nice, concise conclusion from such an extensive length. There is a good understanding of the character and how other characters perceive him - though perhaps not quite as firm a hold how the reader sees Gatsby (after all, we only see him through Nick's eyes, and Nick contradicts himself a lot in the novel as he finds himself repelled by and attracted to Gatsby's opulent life-style). Nonetheless, there is a sensitive appraisal of how the character is formed and a good understanding of his back story, all of which are implemented into analysis that calls to question the apparent irony of labeling Jay Gatsby a "Great" man. It is correctly noted early on that perhaps the title, unlike so many come to fully realise, is not actually ironic. Once Nick leaves West Egg he sobers from his party-intoxicated mind and realises that actually Gatsby was the most real person he ever met there, and that is because Gatsby never originally grew up in the life-style, and so had is moral built on arguably more sturdy foundations. It appears a little understood, the process by which Gatsby acquired his money though, as he participated in bootlegging and illicit alcohol laundering, often having to kill men in the process, so he did actually hurt some people, but this is testament to his undying fervour to seek Daisy Buchanan, and hence why Nick refers to him as "Great". All this is here in this candidate's essay, but some areas are slightly more 'woolly' than otherwise and find it hard to pinpoint want they want to say. To a literature student it is clear, but I would recommend being a little more precise in the future, so that if an examiner is instructed to act as if they are not familiar with the text you can avoid common pitfalls that may cost marks.

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