Character of Gatsby:

Role in The Novel

Gatsby is a very mysterious man. For about the first half of the novel, little is known about him and many
rumors float around. As Nick, the narrator, is seeing him for the first time he observes, "When I looked once
more for Gatsby he had vanished, and l was alone again in the unquiet darkness" (Fitzgerald 21). This quote sets
the tone for Gatsby's character. It provides the reader with some foreshadowing about who Gatsby really is. As
the story progresses, Gatsby's character begins to unravel. The reader finds out that he is Nick's neighbor and
that he is known far and wide for his extravagant parties at his marvelous mansion (Fitzgerald 39-41). However,
Gatsby remains a very polarizing character until his love for Daisy Buchanan is confessed. Gatsby spills
everything to Nick. His name is not really Jay Gatsby, but rather James Gatz. He does not come from money,
but rather a farming family in North Dakota (Fitzgerald 98). Gatsby has created a dream life for himself. He is
practically living a lie in order to win back the love of Daisy. Five years earlier, the two were madly in love, but
Gatsby was forced to leave her and fight in the war (Fitzgerald 150). While he was gone, Daisy married Tom
Buchanan, a rich socialite (Fitzgerald 151). Gatsby has always believed that she married Torn for money and
not him because he was poor. This leads Gatsby to create this fake life of his and to illegally bulid a fabulous
fortune in order to win her back. He buys a stately mansion in West Egg, directly across the bay from the
Buchanan's house. "The Great Gatsby" follows Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy Buchanan. Along the way, money,
alcohol, corruption, affairs, and lies ultimately lead to Gatsbys murder.

Characteristics of Gatsby:
Gatsby possesses many different distinct characteristics. To list and analyze a few.

Wealthy- Jay Gatsby is fabulously wealthy. He comes up with many different ways to explain how he got his
money but through inferencing and rumors that spread in the book, it is obvious to tell that he is a bootlegger.
Tom Buchanan becomes suspicious when thinking about wealthy West Eggers, A lot of these newly rich
people are just big bootleggers. you know" (Fitzgerald 107). It is interesting that Gatsby is a bootlegger because
of the time period, Prohibition, and the fact that he always denies that he is involved in illegal activity, Gatsby
may seem like a reliable person but he is not the most honest. He tries to hide his personal life.

-Charitable: Gatsby is not charitable is a monetary way but in the way that he opens up his colossal home just
for people to come and have fun. He even lets people in that he didn't invite When Nick attends a Gatsby party
for the first time, he realizes. I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited" {Fitzgerald 41}.
Gatsby doesn't attempt to kick people out showing that perhaps, he is looking for someone particular to just
show up. Ultimately, it is revealed he has been Waiting for Daisy to show.

Shy - Gatsby is very shy. He has few friends and although he throws large, crazy parties, those attending don't
know their host. When Nick is searching for him at the first party he notices that, "the two or three people of
whom it asked his whereabouts stared at me in an amazed way" (Fitzgerald 42}. Gatsby makes no efforts to get
to know anybody who comes to his parties.

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Obsessed Gatsby is obsessed with Daisy Buchanan, Ever since he had to leave her five years earlier for the war,
he cant stop thinking about her. The reason that he feels the need to amass the large fortune he now has is to
impress Daisy in an effort to win her back. Before he went to the war, he was broke and he knew Daisy could
not marry a broke man. Gatsby creates his fake life just to impress Daisy. Jordan Baker points out that, "Gatsby
bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay" (Fitzgerald 78}. Gatsby is on a mission, but his
whole life is based around one person.

Misled Gatsby is misled in that he always believed that Daisy never really loved Tom- However, while at the
Plaza Hotel one afternoon, during a heated argument between Tom and Gatsby. Daisy admits, Even alone I
can't say I never loved Tom" (Fitzgerald 133}. Daisy does love Tom or at least did at some point. Gatsby
thought he would have no trouble in winning back Daisy, but time has moved on, Daisy has moved on, but
Gatsby has not.

Mysterious Gatsby is a very mysterious character. Not only does he appear and disappear but there are many
rumors that spread about him. The rumors include that he is a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm, he went to Oxford, he
killed a man, and that he is a German spy. These rumors hang over Gatsbys head throughout almost the entire
novel and create a very strange auora around his character. It seems as though Gatsby enjoys being a mysterious
figure.

Fake - Gatsby is fake because he changes his name at age seventeen and makes up a life for himself to attract
Daisy (Fitzgerald 98). He says that he has traveled all over the world and that he has had a stake in many
different industries, but in reality his money is illegally earned and he is living a big lie.

Meticulous - Gatsby has always been very detailed oriented. Ever since he was a little kid, he has had a plan for
his life. He is a dreamer and he knows what he wants. In a book he had as a child, he wrote a schedule for his
day detailing what he was going to do (Fitzgerald 173]. Throughout his entire life. he has displayed this same
trait. He always has a plan and a dream to follow.

Who he is/Rumors
Catherine, Myrtle Wilsons sister claims that Gatsby is, "a nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm"
(Fitzgerald 32).

A woman Nick meets while attending his first Gatsby party claims that, "I tore my gown on a chair, and
he (Gatsby) asked me my name and my address...l got a package with a new evening gown in it"
(Fitzgerald 43). This shows that Gatsby doesn't want to have problems or drama with anyone.

Several people that also attend Nicks first experience at a Gatsby party claim that Gatsby, "killed a man
once" (Fitzgerald 44).

Another woman at the party denounces that he killed a man but rather, she says, "He was a German Spy
during the war" (Fitzgerald 44).

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 Nick observes one day a group of young ladies in Gtasby's yard saying, "He's a bootlegger...One time he
killed a man who had found out that he was nephew to Von Hindenburg and second cousin to the devil"
(Fitzgerald 61). This one is the most interesting of the rumors as it perfectly exemplifies the crazy stories
about Gatsby that float around.

Jordan Baker claims that Gatsby told her once that, "He was an Oxford man" (Fitzgerald 49).

Gatsby himself says early in the novel, "I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle West - all
dead now," but when asked where in the Middle West, Gatsby answers, "San Francisco" (Fitzgerald 65).
He claims to have his money based on inheritance, which turns out to be a lie.

He claims to have lived in all the capitals of Europe collecting jewels, painting, and hunting (Fitzgerald
65).

Finally, he says that he participated in the war and was decorated by every Allied government for his
courageous actions (Fitzgerald 66).

Who He Really is
Jay Gatsby is not his real name, but rather his name is James Gatz (Fitzgerald 98).
He is not from San Francisco, but rather North Dakota (Fitzgerald 98).

The only time he spent at Oxford was right after the war ended, but he really went to college at a small
Lutheran college, St. Olafs, in Minnesota (Fitzgerald 99; 151).

lt is never necessarily confirmed or denied, but it can be inferred that most of the rumors about Gatsby
on the previous slide are false. He never killed a man, wasnt a German spy, and is not related to
German royalty.

The only reason he has the fortune that he does is to impress Daisy. He has always loved Daisy and he is
living this lie to try and win her back. His house and his clothes, his car and his parties. They are all to
attract Daisy.

He never lived in all the capitals of Europe and was not involved in the different hobbies/industries he
claims. He is a bootlegger and his fortune comes from illegal money.

Gatsby is a misled, obsessed man who has not realized that time has moved on and that Daisy has
moved on. He thinks he can repeat the past (his romance with Daisy), but he cannot. Daisy is with Tom
and she is not going to leave him.

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 Gatsby may seem like a fabulously wealthy young man living the good life, but in reality, a major
conflict is going on inside of him. He is not happy and his fortune is not making him happy. The only
thing that will make him happy is if Daisy leaves Tom.

Gastby sees Daisy as a goddess or higher being. His dream of what she is going to be like is so
fantastical that Daisy can never live up to his dream. She will never be quite good enough. This causes
disappointment for Gatsby and ultimately depression when he realizes that Daisy is not going to leave
Tom for him.

Related Settings
Gastby's Mansion- This is where Gatsbys influence prevails the most. This is where his lavish parties are
held. This is where he has created his life around his desire for Daisy. Gatsbys mansion is a "colossal afair
and includes "forty acres of lawn" (Fitzgerald 5). It is a palatial estate. Many important events happen at the
house such as Daisy and Gatsby's reunion, Gatsbys death, his funeral, the parties, and more. Gatsby's home is a
representation of himself as well. It shows Gatsbys greed and obsession.

~Nick's House - This is where Gatsby's long awaited reunion with Daisy begins. It begins very awkwardly but
it doesn't take long for the two of them to hit it off. Nick's house is very small and old compared to Gatsby's, but
it plays a large role in the novel.

~The Buchanan's House - This is where Daisy and Tom live. Gatsby often stares at the green dock light on
their property. It represents his desire to win back Daisy. The Buchanan's home is also important because it is
where Gatsby realizes that Daisy will not leave Tom. He stands outside the home one night looking out for
Daisy, but what he doesn't realize just then is that Daisy doesn't feel the same way he does (Fitzgerald 143-
145).

~-The Plaza Hotel ~ This is the site of Tom and Gatsbys argument over Daisy and who she really loves. This
argument and this setting set the stage for the action-packed closing to the novel.

Themes He Represents
Gatsby represents many themes in the novel. To list and analyze a few:

Money is the root of all evil. - Gatsby is consumed by money and wealth. He knows that he needs it in order to
attract Daisy. However, due to Gatsby's greed, he creates a fake life and gets involved in illegal activity. His
money and obsession with obtaining wealth lead him to make some very questionable decisions that result in
some very bad events. Gatsby truly exemplifies that money is the basis behind many of the evil things that
happen in society.

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You cannot repeat the past. - Gatsby believes that even though five years have past since he and Dasiy were
in love, he can come back into her life like nothing changed. This is not the case. Daisy has moved on with her
life and has left the past behind. Gatsby is very misled in his belief that, "Can't repeat the past? Why of course
you can!" (Fitzgerald 110). Gatsby learns this theme the hard way.

-Don't let your dreams consume you. - Gatsby's dream of winning back Daisy is a respectable desire. He
loves her and he should do whatever he can to rekindle their romance. However, Gatsby lets his dream control
him. His dream leads him to create a fake life and a fake identity. It causes him to have to tell lies to everyone
and illegally amass a huge fortune. Gatsby is completely consumed by his dream and it takes away from him
enjoying the life he has.

Conclusion
After extensively analyzing Gatsby, it is clear that he is a very interesting character. He possesses many
different qualities and exhibits each one very uniquely. However, when you take a step back and look at him as
a whole, he is a very misled man. He believes the key to the best future is a complete restoration of the past. He
does not understand the passing of time and how it changes people.

Nevertheless, Gatsby/s character represents all that is good in this novel and its comes as no surprise that he is
one of the best characters in American Literature.

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