Austin Abrams
Ms. Wright
English 113
4 March 2013
Gatsby the Great
Magicians are often referred to as “The Great” whomever, such as The Great Houdini. In the Jazz Age classic, The Great Gatsby there is the character of James Gats or Jay Gatsby which he renamed himself. The title of the book insists that Gatsby is looked upon as a respected and mesmerizing character like Houdini was. Jay Gatsby’s life was incredible. More so in the time before his wealth, when he was known as James Gats, a poor young man that later on joins the military. Considering this aspect of the word “great” and the knowledge of how Gatsby’s life progressed and how he “came” into his fortune, one could make the assumption that “The Great” is an appropriate title for Jay Gatsby and/or James Gats.
How is Gatsby “great”? In the beginning, James Gats dreamed and desired to be wealthy and to not ever have anyone know of his poor past so that he seems as if he has always had money. He started out as a poor farmer in Minnesota who then befriends a rich man named Dan Cody whom later on dies. After his job with Cody, Gatsby then joins the military which is when he met a rich girl named Daisy whom he then fell into love with. She couldn’t tell if he was poor or rich due to his uniform and the fact that he was an officer. Once Gatsby went off to war Daisy got married to Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby then decides to dedicate his time to becoming rich to win Daisy back. Gatsby went on to Oxford, hunted big game, and earned various medals all to gain more wealth. He then moves into a mansion near Daisy. Tom is cheating on his wife, Daisy and Daisy is unhappy in her marriage. Gatsby is trying to win her back by persuading her to leave Tom. Then it is revealed that Gatsby gained his wealth through illegal alcohol distribution and organized crime. In the end, Daisy ends up staying with Tom and as her and Gatsby drive home, she hits and kills Tom’s mistress, Mertle. For revenge, Mertle’s husband finds and kills Gatsby because Gatsby covered for Mertle whom was driving his car.
Throughout all of Gatsby’s life, he was obsessed with the past and his dream of gaining wealth, love and higher social status than he had when he was younger. Ever since Gatsby was younger he had the desire to find self-improvement in such ways as social status and wealth. Daisy turns out to be the one true way for Gatsby to prove to himself that he deserves and has earned the right to be a part of the higher social status group. From all of this information on Gatsby life, one could realize that from all of the events that occurred during Gatsby’s life, even his tragic death which like the title insists, he was in fact “great”.
Ms. Wright
English 113
4 March 2013
Gatsby the Great
Magicians are often referred to as “The Great” whomever, such as The Great Houdini. In the Jazz Age classic, The Great Gatsby there is the character of James Gats or Jay Gatsby which he renamed himself. The title of the book insists that Gatsby is looked upon as a respected and mesmerizing character like Houdini was. Jay Gatsby’s life was incredible. More so in the time before his wealth, when he was known as James Gats, a poor young man that later on joins the military. Considering this aspect of the word “great” and the knowledge of how Gatsby’s life progressed and how he “came” into his fortune, one could make the assumption that “The Great” is an appropriate title for Jay Gatsby and/or James Gats.
How is Gatsby “great”? In the beginning, James Gats dreamed and desired to be wealthy and to not ever have anyone know of his poor past so that he seems as if he has always had money. He started out as a poor farmer in Minnesota who then befriends a rich man named Dan Cody whom later on dies. After his job with Cody, Gatsby then joins the military which is when he met a rich girl named Daisy whom he then fell into love with. She couldn’t tell if he was poor or rich due to his uniform and the fact that he was an officer. Once Gatsby went off to war Daisy got married to Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby then decides to dedicate his time to becoming rich to win Daisy back. Gatsby went on to Oxford, hunted big game, and earned various medals all to gain more wealth. He then moves into a mansion near Daisy. Tom is cheating on his wife, Daisy and Daisy is unhappy in her marriage. Gatsby is trying to win her back by persuading her to leave Tom. Then it is revealed that Gatsby gained his wealth through illegal alcohol distribution and organized crime. In the end, Daisy ends up staying with Tom and as her and Gatsby drive home, she hits and kills Tom’s mistress, Mertle. For revenge, Mertle’s husband finds and kills Gatsby because Gatsby covered for Mertle whom was driving his car.
Throughout all of Gatsby’s life, he was obsessed with the past and his dream of gaining wealth, love and higher social status than he had when he was younger. Ever since Gatsby was younger he had the desire to find self-improvement in such ways as social status and wealth. Daisy turns out to be the one true way for Gatsby to prove to himself that he deserves and has earned the right to be a part of the higher social status group. From all of this information on Gatsby life, one could realize that from all of the events that occurred during Gatsby’s life, even his tragic death which like the title insists, he was in fact “great”.