Timothy Pabustan

Per .4

English

Great Gatsby Essay

          Critics said that great literature produces a “healthy confusion” of pleasure and disquietude within the reader. In the Fitzgerald classic, The Great Gatsby, the central character, Jay Gatsby, produces this sense of “healthy confusion” in the reader. Readers are confused on whether to categorized Gatsby as a sinister villain or a romantic hero. Because of the ambivalence in Gatsby’s persona, Fitzgerald created a masterpiece in which he shows the death of the American dream because of hedonism, greed, and materialism.

          To expand the reader’s ambivalence towards Gatsby, Nick Caraway, considered as the moral voice of the book, shows ambivalent feelings towards Gatsby. In the first chapter, Nick “exempts Gatsby from my [Nick’s] reaction” to the East way of hedonistic life, however he also said that “Gatsby… represented everything…I [Nick] have an unaffected scorn.” The oxymoronic idea creates the ambivalence and it makes Gatsby’s character more memorable and interesting.

          One reason for disquietude in Gatsby’s character is his shady underworld connections. Gatsby is a part of the infamous sinister gangsters of the 1920s, which included Al Capone, and the Italian mafia. Gatsby is believed to be the right hand man of ruthless gangster Meyer Wolfsheim, an allusion to the real Arnold Rothstein the man who fixed the 1919 World Series. On one occasion, Wolfsheim is described wearing a cuff links made of human molars. Gatsby and Wolfsheim are involved in illegal activity such as bootlegging and the trade of stolen bonds. Gatsby’s baleful business connections and lifestyle discomposes the reader in assuming the Gatsby is a typical hero.

          Another source of disquietude in Gatsby’s character is his lying about his past and creating an ideal image of himself. The reader is amused and at the same time disturbed by Gatsby’s portrayal of himself. Gatsby claims to be the scion of a prominent Midwestern family; however, when Nick asks him which Midwestern city he comes from, Gatsby falsely says "San Francisco." He claims to have studied at Oxford and lived in all the capitals of Europe; then he enlisted in the war effort, where he was rapidly promoted to major and decorated by every Allied government. In contrast, he was born to an impoverished farmer in North Dakota. Though he did attend St Olaf's ­ a small college in Minnesota ­ he dropped out after two weeks, as he could not bear working as a janitor in order to pay his tuition. Gatsby’s untruthfulness disquiets the reader because the “typical ideal hero” is always truthful and has the courage to be himself.

          Another source of disquietude in Gatsby’s character is his vulgar display of materialism. The best example of Gatsby showing off his wealth is in his extravagant party. Gatsby’s party is almost unbelievably luxurious: guests marvel over his Rolls-Royce, his swimming pool, his beach, crates of fresh oranges and lemons, buffet tents in the gardens overflowing with a feast, and a live orchestra playing under the stars. Liquor flows freely, and the crowd grows rowdier and louder as more and more guests get drunk. Another way Gatsby display his wealth is in his house. He has an enormous library where books are left “uncut”. Gatsby’s extravagance turns off the reader. It makes them think Gatsby is mocking them of his enormous wealth.

          Lastly, we are disquieted by Gatsby’s unwillingness to accept that he is committing adultery by having an affair with Daisy and Gatsby’s reluctance to accept that Daisy is not worthy of his love. Gatsby’s blindness to see that Daisy is not worthy is appalling to the reader, since the readers are able to see every aspect of Daisy’s personality. Gatsby is willing to commit one of the 10 mortal sins in the 10 Commandment – adultery – to fulfill his dream.    

          The confusion in Gatsby persona is further distorted by the pleasure that he create within the reader. Beside from being a sinister villain, Gatsby is also a romantic hero. This is the reason Nick says that Gatsby is “worth more than the whole bunch of them put together.” Gatsby’s love for Daisy, although maybe unworthy, is sincere. The day after the Daisy killed Myrtle, Gatsby is patiently waiting for Daisy to come back to her. He is genuinely concerned for the welfare of Daisy, even willing to risk his own safety by selflessly admitting that he is the one who drove the “death car”. The reader is enchanted by Gatsby’s courage for his love.  The idea of a romantic dreamer fascinates the reader. Gatsby’s selfless act to save Daisy makes him different from the rest of the “rotten crowd” of the East.

          The idea of a self-made man, a man that came from rags to riches also intrigues the reader. Gatsby is the perfect example of a man who has nothing and becoming a man that has everything money can buy. Gatsby’s humble beginnings and belief he can have the life of a wealthy man is fascinating. Gatsby is the predecessor of Scarface Tony Montana- also a man from rags to riches because illegal activities.  Gatsby like Tony Montana creates a sense of ambivalence with audience. They love them for their courage, yet they hate them because they are the “bad” guys.