F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

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The Value of Jay Gatsby

Jay Gatsby, who is one of the main characters of the Great Gatsby, is a man with a mysterious background and an unknown personality. He doesn't mention too much about his past except certain fabricated highlights of his life which were designed to impress others. The strange and humorous thing is that he carries articles of evidence that back up most of his lies to prove that he isn't lying. Gatsby is also the kind of man that is used to getting what he wants no matter what the consequences are, causing him to be a very determined man that once has an idea in his mind won't let it go until he accomplishes it. The things that Jay Gatsby values the most is money, to impress others and gain acceptance and most of all, having things his own way. In a manner, these are some of the characteristics of the American Dream and what people strive for when they come to America.

Gatsby is a man that is out to impress others and he tries dearly to gain acceptance from others but he is not always successful at this. This is clearly shown when he hosts these immense parties that he creates to impress others but to mostly lure in Daisy so that he can meet her again and finally show off his social status to her. But before this could happen, Nick, Gatsby's new neighbor and cousin of Daisy, meets Nick. As they began to talk, Gatsby starts to discuss portions of his past to Nick and he seems the need to shows proof to back up his claims. For example when Nick was with Gatsby in his car heading toward New York, Gatsby boasts how he had gone to Oxford University and how he had been promoted to major and was given a momento from Montenegro. What was odd was that he had evidence to back up both of these claims. From his pocket he pulled out 'a souvenir of Oxford days. It was taken in Trinity Quad…'; 'It was a photograph of a half a dozen men in blazers loafing in an archway through which were visible a host of spires.'; (71) And then again he reached into his pocket and pulled out his war momento,'To my astonishment the thing had an authentic look.'; (71) showing that he was obviously trying to impress t Nick and prove himself correct so that he could fit in and look like a man with a normal past.

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