Jay Gatsby's American Dream
Created By: Austin Clair
Gatsby's Dream
In the Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby has a dream of love. Love is what is on Gatsby's mind from start to finish. His love for Daisy (Toms wife) surpasses any item that he owns. "Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay"(Fitzgerald). Gatsby is so attached to Daisy that he has to be near her all the time. Gatsby even goes the extra mile and changes his appearance from tatted clothes to expensive suit."A white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold-colored tie"(Fitzgerald). Daisy is all about the finer things in life, weather that be fancy clothes or having a book shelf full of books, shes all about the money. Gatsby can tell that Daisy likes material things, and Gatsby has they money to buy these things to impress Daisy. Throughout the book,
Gatsby throws parties trying to get Daisy to come and see him."He nearly toppled down a flight of stairs"(Fitzgerald) Once Daisy comes to his party, Gatsby is so excited that can hardly walk straight, because of his love for her. He'd rather make himself look like a fool in front of her, than be someone that he isn't.
Gatsby throws parties trying to get Daisy to come and see him."He nearly toppled down a flight of stairs"(Fitzgerald) Once Daisy comes to his party, Gatsby is so excited that can hardly walk straight, because of his love for her. He'd rather make himself look like a fool in front of her, than be someone that he isn't.
Money CAN buy you love
A symbol that relates to Gatsby is money. Money brings him closer to the one he loves, and it also brings people to question what he does to gain that wealth." There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights...repairing the ravages of the night before"(Fitzgerald). Gatsby throws parties, and when he does this his wealth truly shows. He has these parties, and only throws them to see if Daisy will come. Gatsby also uses his money to gain privileges that other citizens don't have.""All right, old sport," called Gatsby. We slowed down. Taking a white card from his wallet, he waved it before a man's eyes....I was able to do the commissioner a favor once, and he sends me a Christmas card every year."(Fitzgerald) This also adds the the "sketchy-ness" of Gatsby and how his money plays a huge role in his life and the society during this time period. "Something worried me.Why didn't he ask you to arrange a meeting?He wants her to see his house," she explained.And your house is right next door."(Fitzgerald) With this Gatsby is trying to win Daisy back with his wealth. He knows from the police officer that money can buy you anything, and with the right price anyone can be on your side.
Liar Lair Pants on Fire
Jay Gatsby can be discribed in two words. Liar and independent. He's a liar when he talks about his college days at oxford when he was with Tom. "By the way, Mr. Gatsby, I understand you’re an Oxford man"(Fitzgerald). He claims that he is an Oxford man when In reality he isn't. Gatsby also makes himself look like he isn't an oxford man when he said to Tom "I'm not exactly and oxford man" (Fitzgerald). He digs his hole even bigger with that lie. He is independed because he enjoys being by himself during his extravagant parties the throws often, and how he sticks to the shadows."I saw a shadowy figure at gatsbys mansion, looking towards the water"(Fitzgerald). This was the first time Gatsby was seen outside his mansion.
Color
The color green is the color that connects with Gatsby really well. Green, symbolizes hope, and Gatsby always stares at a green light at the end of the dock where Daisy and Tom lives."You'll always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock"(Fitzgerald). Gatsby is hoping that Daisy will become his, and the green light is the everlasting impression of Daisy that is on his mind. "It had seemed as close as a star to the moon"(Fitzgerald). Here, Gatsby is feeling as if he and Daisy are closer than ever. All he needs to do now is finish his mission of being with Daisy."I though of Gatsby's wonder when he picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock"(Fitzgerald) Nick even questions Gatsby's obsession with the green light, and weather it even symbolized anything with the relationship of Gatsby and Gatsby.
Time to Pay the Piper
Gatsby life was full of eventful things, but the ultimate price that was paid was his life. He had to hide his job from is so called friends, and from his love Daisy."So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight"(Fitzgerald). This foreshadows the death of Myrtle and eventually Gatsby."Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he’s dead," he suggested. "After that my own rule is to let everything alone."(Fitzgerald). Gatsby wasn't immortal, eventually word got around about the death of Myrtle, and Wilson sought out to kill Gatsby. He could payoff the Police, but he can't pay off the citizens of New York.
Work Cited
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York City: Scribner, 1925. Print.