The analyzation of The Great Gatsby.

University Degree Linguistics, Classics and related subjects

AN ANALYZATION OF THE GREAT GATSBY

BY PRISCILLA A. MEADOWS

NOVEMBER 17, 2000

The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald takes place among the contrast of the neighboring rich and poor. After reuniting with his cousin, Daisy Buchanan, Nick Calloway is thrust into a world in which both rich and poor are miserable and extra marital affairs are common. Not long after meeting Daisy’s husband, Tom Buchanan, Nick is soon exposed to the affair Tom is having with Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle Wilson is the wife of auto-mechanic, George Wilson. About this time Jay Gatsby enters the lives of many of the locals as the elusive host to many elaborate parties. Gatsby’s interest in Nick eludes him until Jordan Baker enlightens him to the love Gatsby has long felt for Daisy. Jordan is Nicks love interest and a well-known golf champion. As a good friend to Daisy, Jordan has an insight to the feelings that are felt between Gatsby and Daisy. All affairs of the heart come to light one tragic evening and as Gatsby and Daisy leave the others behind Myrtle is killed as she runs across the street. Witnesses do not see the driver and Gatsby is soon telling Nick that Daisy had been driving the car on that fateful night. A mournful George out for vengeance eventually finds his way to Tom. Tom has no intentions of admitting adultery with Myrtle, so he instead turns George’s attention to Gatsby as the culprit. Filled with rage, George shoots Gatsby then turns the gun on himself. Nick dutifully attempts to find mourners for Gatsby’s funeral but it would soon be proven that no one was interested in Gatsby himself, only with the good times he could provide them with. I will analyze this novel in terms of man’s search for identity. Socially we sometimes believe material things or overwhelming love are things that will make us whole or content with our lives. We have false hopes about our lives and will not be easily fulfilled. We place emphasis on things or people to fill voids instead of concentrating on our souls and minds. I will discuss four of the main characters in this novel individually and analyze the search for their own identity.

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Jay Gatsby searches for his identity through love. The money he earns is simply something he needs to help him find the love he has dreamed of for years. Gatsby seeks a love that is concocted in his head and therefore unrealistic. When Gatsby first meets Daisy she is young, beautiful, rich and very much out of his league. Gatsby specifically recalls falling in love with Daisy’s house while visiting her so he arranges for Daisy to have tea at Nick’s house, giving Daisy the perfect view of his own mansion. Gatsby has his lawn cut, buys flowers to impress Daisy and then nervously reintroduces himself. By impressing Daisy with his home Gatsby obviously longs for the same effect on her. Gatsby knows from the inception of his relationship with Daisy that he cannot have her if he does not have money. Gatsby’s feelings of unwortyness are solidified when Daisy marries wealthy Tom Buchanan not long after Gatsby departs while serving in the military. Gatsby incorrectly assumes that money is all he needs and that the rest will fall into place. Unfortunately with or without money Gatsby cannot have the status and the prestige of old money and Daisy places herself above people with self-made riches. It seems all that Gatsby goes through to attain riches is in vane, for all the money in the world will never suffice in a world like Daisy’s.

Myrtle Wilson searches for her identity through money. Myrtle evolves into another person when Tom exposes her to a lavish lifestyle. While throwing a party at the apartment she shares with Tom, Myrtle calls a nice dress she is complimented on a “crazy old thing” and says she “slips it on when she doesn’t care what she looks like”. This statement coming from a woman who resides over a garage is obviously false. Myrtle becomes a spoiled little girl around Tom, acting almost giddy at times with the thought of being bought material possessions no matter what they are. While on an outing with Nick and Tom, Myrtle becomes very excited when she sees puppies on the side of the road and becomes girl like in her demand of the animal. The lack of emotion that Myrtle feels for her husband, who is poor, versus the affection she feel for Tom, who is rich attests to her obvious materialism. Myrtle claims it was a mistake for her to marry George Wilson. Myrtle complains about George frequently and refers to him as “a breed not fit to lick her shoe”. Clearly Myrtle resents the fact that George is not successful and is therefore of little value to her.

Tom Buchanan searches for his identity through love. His sexual conquests are obvious attempts to compensate for the love that does not exist in his marriage to Daisy. Tom desperately wants the love of his wife but has to settle for her loyalty. Tom has come to the conclusion that Daisy will never love him. Her marriage to Tom is one of convenience. Tom represents prestige, companionship, and most of all wealth. Their wedding day was one filled with pomp and circumstance; Tom knew from the beginning that his actions needed to be extreme and lavish. Tom’s wife can’t live without wealth; his attempts to please her are to make her love him. After finding out about Daisy’s affair with Gatsby, Tom recalls a tender moment when he carries Daisy down from the Punch Bowl to keep her shoes dry. Tom became fearful of loosing his wife when he hears of her other relationship; he wants her to love only him. Tom has hopes and desires for the love that could only come from Daisy.

Daisy Buchanan searches for her identity through money. Daisy’s quest to remain at the level in society that she has known all of her life prevents her from choosing a man she loves because he is socially unacceptable. Jordan recalls finding Daisy in a drunken stooper clutching in her hand a letter from Gatsby. Daisy mumbles that she has changed her mind about marrying Tom, yet after sobering up continues with the ceremony not mentioning the incident again. Daisy makes her choice of a husband who was socially more acceptable and decided to forego any possibility of love. I feel Daisy would have never been satisfied; she marries a man who has money and is miserable without love; but had Daisy married Gatsby when she had the opportunity she would have probably been unhappy with out the riches.

I have discussed man’s search for identity as the theme in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In doing so, I noticed that the characters in this novel never once look inside themselves for contentment. The characters I have discussed, and other in this unique, enter twining novel seek to make themselves hole by attaining sexual conquests, material possessions, and above all wealth. Not surprisingly, none of the characters ever get what they want out of life. Gatsby wants the love of Daisy and instead ends up dead; Myrtle sought to hold on to her rich lover and ends up dead; Tom and Daisy stay unhappily married.

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