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Character traits of jay gatsby
Compare and contrast jay gatsby and tom buchanan
Compare and contrast jay gatsby and tom buchanan
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Jay Gatsby is a man of great fortune and power, with only one unobtainable dream. The dream that Gatsby is chasing is Daisy, his love from before the war. Gatsby and Nick are two contrasting characters; this is because while Nick also has one goal his is obtainable in that he wishes to earn his own wealth (albeit on his influential father's dime). Gatsby and Nick contrast in another fashion, and that is that Gatsby believes that if he works hard enough he can relive the past, and erase the past five years of Daisy's life with Tom; Nick on the other hand has, for his infinite amount of hope, the voice of truth that the past is past and only the present and future can be lived in. Upon first meeting Gatsby we find him staring at the green light at the end of the dock owned by Daisy. The exact wording of this moment is “But A I didn’t call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone-he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling” (Fitzgerald, 19-20). This instance alone shows nothing, save a longing, but when combined with the next few chapters it shows Gatsby obsession with all things related to Daisy. Another instance of Gatsby's longing for Daisy is showed in that his parties are meant to be for her. This conversation between Nick and Gatsby from late in the book shows Gatsby's concern when Daisy is actually at his party ““She didn’t like it,” he said immediately. “Of course she did.” “She didn’t like it,” he insisted. “She didn’t have a good time.” He was silent, and I guessed at his unutterable depression” (108-109). The major flaw in Gatsby's plan is that Daisy is old money, and old money and new money... ... middle of paper ... ...so it is that a love started, and reunited has ended in tragedy, in Shakespeare famous words they were Star-crossed lovers, Gatsby and Daisy. The two things that had predicted their fail from the beginning were two things that were glaringly apparent to everybody around the pair except themselves. The first is that Daisy is not simply the woman that Gatsby is in love with but rather the man's religion, an idol of indefinite beauty. The second is that Gatsby believes that because when they were young and in love, that now after she has been married five years and had a child that Daisy will come back to him, and they could start where they left of at.. In the end Gatsby accomplished one thing, and that was to prove that Nick was right, it is impossible to repeat the past. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1925. Print.
In the beginning, Gatsby was a poor army boy who fell in love with a rich girl named Daisy. Knowing from their different circumstances, he could not marry her. So Gatsby left to accumulate a lot of money. Daisy, not being able to wait for Gatsby, marries a rich man named Tom. Tom believes that it is okay for a man to be unfaithful but it is not okay for the woman to be. This caused a lot of conflict in their marriage and caused Daisy to be very unhappy. Gatsby’s dream is to be with Daisy, and since he has accumulated a lot of money, he had his mind set on getting her back. Throughout the novel, Gatsby shows his need to attain The American Dream of love and shows his determination to achieve it. You can tell that Gatsby has a clear vision of what he wants when Nick says, “..he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I gla...
Jay Gatsby is an enormously rich man, and in the flashy years of the jazz age, wealth defined importance. Gatsby has endless wealth, power and influence but never uses material objects selfishly. Everything he owns exists only to attain his vision. Nick feels "inclined to reserve all judgements" (1), but despite his disapproval of Gatsby's vulgarity, Nick respects him for the strength and unselfishness of his idealism. Gatsby is a romantic dreamer who wishes to fulfill his ideal by gaining wealth in hopes of impressing and eventually winning the heart of the materialistic, superficial Daisy. She is, however, completely undeserving of his worship. "Then it had been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor" (79). Nick realizes Gatsby's estate, parties, shirts and other seemingly "purposeless" possessions are not purposeless. Everything Gatsby does, every move he makes and every decision he conceives is for a reason. He wants to achieve his ideal, Daisy. Gatsby's "purposeless splendor" is all for the woman he loves and wishes to represent his ideal. Furthermore, Gatsby believes he can win his woman with riches, and that his woman can achieve the ideal she sta...
When reflecting on his memories of the man he knew as Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway recalls the unique individual’s finest quality: “It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again” (Fitzgerald 2). Although Gatsby occasionally stepped off the straight and narrow, he never lost sight of his ultimate goal: Daisy’s love. Even when it seemed as though everything was working against him and that he would never regain his lost love, Gatsby kept going, knowing that the strength of his hope would see him through. His childlike determination, while ultimately his downfall, was what made Gatsby truly “great.”
The two were young lovers who were unable to be together because of differences in social status. Gatsby spends his life after Daisy acquiring material wealth and social standing to try and reestablish a place in Daisy’s life. Once Gatsby gains material wealth he moves to the West Egg where the only thing separating he and Daisy is a body of water. It is through the eyes of Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, that the reader gains insight into the mysterious Jay Gatsby. In Nick’s description of his first encounter with Gatsby he says, “But I didn't call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” The reader soon discovers that the green light is at the end of Daisy’s dock, signifying Gatsby’s desperation and desire to get her back. Gatsby’s obsessive nature drives him to throw parties in hopes that his belonged love will attend. The parties further reveal the ungrasping mysteriousness of Gatsby that lead to speculations about his past. Although the suspicions are there, Gatsby himself never denies the rumors told about him. In Nick’s examination of Gatsby he says, “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.” This persona Gatsby portrays shows how he is viewed by others, and further signifies his hope and imagination
He isolated himself from the connection to the world. His only best friend was money, which only provide short term happiness. Gatsby one the short term happiness is his parties. We can see the vast amount of unknown people coming to his party ever so often(39). These people come and go. They are not his friends, in fact, they are fake friends who also on the other hand, are looking to have the feel of high standard life. For instance,"Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came to the party with simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission"(41). This proves Gatsby isolated himself from the world of relationships. Gatsby can buy the parties with money, but not the friendship. They come to Gatsby parties for his money. After attaining all the wealth, Gatsby 's ultimate dream is to attain his long lost love who he thinks can be won with wealth. Daisy is also no different than the others as she fake loves Gatsby for him money. For example, Gatsby states "Her voice is full of money" because she can be bought and sold like money (120). Her voice ' tone goes up and down which emphasize that she is fake just like the sound of coins on someone 's pocket. She is for sale, so she can enjoy the wealth of Gatsby luxurious life. Daisy sees only wealth on Gatsby while he is searching for real
The two main characters presented in the novel are Gatsby and Nick. Gatsby is shown as a very mysterious individual, many people do not know whom Gatsby is. However he is a well-known individual who has many rumors going around about him and his background such as “Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once” (Fitzgerald, 45). There are not many physical description of Gatsby but Nick described him as “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself” (Fitzgerald, 49) from what Nick said it shows that Gatsby has a trustworthy appearance. We learn that Gatsby’s parents were farmers who were very poor but Gatsby was still very ambitious and he wanted to live “THE AMERICAN DREAM”. Gatsby whole purpose in life after loosing Daisy due to going to the war was to get Daisy back and live a perfect life with her. Nick is the narrator of the novel who reflects on his experience with Gatsby. Nick often views himself as a “Well rounded man” (Fitzgerald, 10) because he thinks he is open minded, tolerant, and a good listener because of this Gatsby reveals his true identity and tells Nick about his past and personal affairs. Nicks main purpose in the book was too guide Gatsby in getting Daisy and being by his side. As a friend Nick tries to tell Gatsby that his idea of getting Daisy back is foolish this also shows that Nick was a true friend by looking out for his friend. In comparing the novel to th...
Jay Gatsby, the central figure of the story, is one character who longs for the past. Surprisingly he devotes most of his adult life trying to recapture it and, finally, dies in its pursuit. In the past, Jay had a love affair with the affluent Daisy. Knowing he could not marry her because of the difference in their social status, he leaves her to amass wealth to reach her economic standards. Once he acquires this wealth, he moves near to Daisy and buys a house there across the bay, and throws extravagant parties, hoping by chance she might show up at one of them. He, himself, does not attend his parties but watches them from a distance. Gatsby's personal dream symbolizes the larger American Dream where all have the opportunity to get what they want.
Nick being the only person he has ever gave an invitation to, he does this to get closer to Daisy. This shows how Gatsby’s obsession is. He even does illegal things to get wealthy so she will notice him. Daisy says to Gatsby in their earlier relationship, “rich girls do not date poor boys.” By throwing his huge, lavish parties, Gatsby tries to attract Daisy. He wants to show her his great wealth he has accumulated since they last met. Gatsby’s obsession has taken over him, he sees Daisy as sort of a goal he wants to reach. Daisy and Gatsby have not been together long enough to grow into a love relationship. She is so consumed in having wealth she does not know what love really is. She leaves Gatsby during the war to be with someone who has great
He was very determined to be able to be with Daisy. Gatsby became wealthy to be able to have a good life with Daisy because he knew that she cared a lot about social status and wealth. He also built a house across the river of her house so she could be attracted to his lavish parties in hopes of finding her. Gatsby also befriended Nick which was her cousin to be able to get closer to Daisy , and threw a tea party in order to “accidentally” meet her again. On page 63 in the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald it is an example of this, “ "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay,”. This next quote also shows Gatsby determination to meet daisy ,”He wants to know," continued Jordan, "if you'll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over...I think he half expected her to wander into one of his parties, some night,' went on
Gatsby point this notion out when he says, “Daisy is money”. She is the parallel that Fitzgerald sets up to demonstrate that the quest for money is inevitable to fail. Before Gatsby became enamored by her limitless possibilities and defined himself by her he could have had the world. But instead he dedicated his life to getting her as his own. His longing for Daisy is an unhealthy obsession that gears everything Gatsby does. The ostentatious parties were thrown in hopes of her attending. Gatsby buys a huge house and fills it with pretentious things in order to solicit attention from the thing he most desires. The irony is that all of this is a failure. When Daisy finally goes to one of Gatsby’s parties she despises everything about it. No matter what he does Daisy is unobtainable. Nothing is ever enough because Gatsby can never be satisfied. Fitzgerald proves that the blind pursuit of perfection and money, as the 1920’s were to some people, is predestined to fail. When Nick first sees Gatsby he is staring wistfully at a money-colored light in the distance. This is the light on Daisy’s dock. It is just across the lake that separates East and West egg from each other. It seems so close but at the same time can never be
... Nick makes a small funeral for Gatsby and Daisy does not attend it. He took the blame for her, and he is dead all because of her, he sacrificed for her. She and Tom decide to travel and take off. Also Nick breaks up with Jordan, and he moves back to Midwest because he has had enough of these people, and hates the people that were close to Gatsby and for bareness, emptiness, and cold heart they have of the life in the middle of the wealthy on the East Coast. Nick realizes, and reveals that Gatsby’s dream of Daisy was ruined by money and un-loyalty, dishonestly. Daisy all she cared about is wealth, she chased after the men that have a lot of money. Even though Gatsby has control, influence, and authority to change his dreams into making it into real life for him this is what Nicks says makes him a good man. Now both Gatsby’s dream and the American Dream are over.
Daisy’s original impression of Gatsby is evident in her early letters to him, “...he had deliberately given Daisy a sense of security; he let her believe that he was a person from much the same stratum as herself- that he was fully able to take care of her” (149). Daisy loved Gatsby under the false hope that they belonged to the same social class. She grew up surrounded by riches, never working a day in her life, and she could not comprehend the struggles of a man who must work for the food he eats each day. Daisy knew that she must marry when she is beautiful, for being a beautiful rich girl of good social standing was her highest commodity and most valuable chip in marrying well. In order to live a secure life, she had to find someone the had the means to provide for her extravagant lifestyle, and the deep care for her that would allow Daisy to do as she pleased. The only definition of love Daisy knew was one of disillusioned power and commitments under false pretenses in order to keep the wealthy continually rich. Daisy acknowledges the false pretenses of marriage for the wealthy in how she describes her daughter’s future. She tells Nick, “‘And I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this
Gatsby downfall came when he sacrificed his morality to attain wealth. Gatsby realises that the illusion of his dream with Daisy, demands wealth to become priority, and thus wealth becomes the desire overriding his need for her [Daisy’s] love. Gatsby claims to others that he has inherited his wealth, but Nick discovers "[h]is parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" (Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, pg 104) and that Gatsby has lied about his past. In a society that relies on luxuries, Gatsby throws parties to attract Daisy’s attention. Also, Gatsby expresses that same need to keep busy, just as Daisy does, in a society of the elite. Nick describes Gatsby as "never quite still, there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand" (Fitzgerald, pg 68). Gatsby fills his house "full of interesting people...who do interesting things" (Fitzgerald, pg 96). Gatsby's dream is doomed to failure in that he has lost the fundamental necessities to experience love, such as honesty and moral integrity.
Gatsby’s obsession has been the powerful driving force causing him to become incredibly wealthy, albeit through shady means. He has yearned for Daisy so much that he has developed this colossal illusion of her, however, this illusion is only Gatsby’s desire for the perfect Daisy that he knew in the past. Gatsby himself tells Nick that, “... when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his inutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God.” (pg. 110) Gatsby, a man of immense ambition and imagination, fell in true love with a woman, so, naturally, his ambition and imagination became targeted solely at that woman. Gatsby longs for the Daisy he knew and just cannot accept any other form of Daisy, which is clearly demonstrated when he says, “‘Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can!’ … ‘I’m going to fix everything the way it was before,’ ... ‘She’ll see.’”(pg. 110) Gatsby adamantly believes that the past Daisy is the only true Daisy and as such, wants to repeat the past and marry the Daisy that he knew. To that end, he obtained the one thing keeping them apart---money. Unfortunately, Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy caused him to only focus on the past with Daisy, not caring about whatever he had to do to get her back, which is what ultimately brought him down in the end. Gatsby did not even consider that the way he obtained his money would be a major factor in his relationship with Daisy. He just wanted Daisy, and while he did win the battle, he ultimately lost the war. Gatsby’s obsession, while giving him the power he needed to achieve his goal, ultimately caused the destruction of his aspiration by causing his mind to focus solely on the
Jay Gatsby’s mind believes in a world of idealism that circled around Daisy Buchanan, who he felt was a super woman. Gatsby is adamant that Daisy Buchanan is the same woman he envisioned in his dreams. Nick Carraway suggests that, “There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way” (Gatsby 95). Nick is quick to realize that although Gatsby won’t admit he’s wrong, and Daisy could not ever live up to the hype. All Gatsby sees is an astounding and beautiful woman who is perfect. Gatsby’s love and desire for Daisy is a gamble he can’t win, he’s setting himself up for failure if he furthers this comportment. Although Daisy was his past he still feels that they could reconcile regardless of her social status and marriage. His idealistic mind runs the world the way he wants to. Gatsby had felt his return can usurp the marriage of the Buchanan’s. Ironically, Gatsby idealistically wanted Daisy to admit she loved him. In fact,