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Daniel Casa

Mr. Freitas

ENG-4U1-02

April 8th, 2021

How Far Can You Reach?

“The Great American Novel”, really? That is who Americans look up to as a hero? A

fraud, a coward who is constantly craving the need for stimulation, someone who regularly

arranges plans of deception and manipulation to achieve what he wants, yet, he is considered

“Great.” Gatsby’s out-stretched arms towards the green light of daisy’s dock holds a lot more

significance than just a dock light, he is reaching at a club, a group of people he will never be

given access to, no matter how far his lies or arms stretch. Gatsby’s constant reach at the green

light is shown through many forms, his house, his parties, and ultimately, his fake past. Through

primarily these three lies, Gatsby feels his reach is becoming closer and closer, but the reality is

quite the contrary. Gatsby's desperate attempts to be accepted into an exclusive group do not sit

well with many, no matter how close he thinks he is to that elusive, green light. His fraud

character proves to be fatal to anyone close to Gatsby, including himself.

The common man bases his thoughts on someone's wealth on the things he can visually

see, like a car or a house. In attempts to be welcomed in by “the green light” Gatsby flaunts his

money around by buying exotic possessions. He believes this is crucial in becoming one step

closer to the green light. Gatsby’s house is one you might see in a magazine, or one a super star

modern day athlete would have, but it is not what members of the green light club have, despite
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what Gatsby might think. Inside this crazy house, Gatsby shows he is quite literally throwing

money down the toilet, since he has a solid gold toilet. In the garage of this house, continuing the

trend of solid gold, his car is made from, you guessed it, solid gold. Gatsby believes that all these

fancy things will be enough to be accepted by members of the green light community, as it

shows that Gatsby has enough money to spend on ridiculous possessions. Gatsby’s fraud-like

behavior results in his attempts to go down the toilet quite literally, the solid gold toilet.

Since Gatsby’s attempts to flaunt his possessions have not been successful in the eyes of

the “green light” group, he finds another way to use his house to sway them into believing he has

what it takes to be one of them. Gatsby fraud-like character is shown again when he throws the

craziest parties known to man every week. Gatsby makes it seem as if he throws these parties to

make everyone happy, himself and the guests. He is not happy with the parties, nor does he care

if the guests are happy with the parties. He throws these parties hoping that Daisy will show up

to one of them and see for herself how successful Gatsby has become. Gatsby’s lying personality

is shown at these parties again, as he feels that he must lie to his guests and himself to get what

he wants, quite manipulative. The reality is that Gatsby can throw a wild party every day, but the

members of the green light community see right through the lies covered up by champagne and

live music.

The people who make up the exclusive club Gatsby is desperately trying to be part

ultimately all have one thing in common, how they received their money. For generations on

generations, the members of the green light group have been rich, and inherited money from the

generation before. Gatsby claims he has done the same, but it is obvious he has not. In reality,

Gatsby has earned most of his money through illegal activity. In addition to that lie, Gatsby also

claims that he attended Oxford as part of a “family tradition”, something most members of the
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green light group have also done. Again, it is learned that Gatsby was only at Oxford for 5

months, as part of a military program. Perhaps the biggest stretch Gatsby attempts to complete in

his life is his demeanor in general. Gatsby calls everyone “old sport” which screams rich. He

uses phrases like that to convince the people around him that he is better than everyone else,

which is the biggest lie he takes part in. Through all these endeavors, Gatsby feels he has what it

takes to finally reach out to grab the green light, but just as reaches one final time, he is shot, and

dies.

Through multiple drastic reaches, Gatsby feels he is inching closer and closer to being

accepted into a club where he feels he belongs. The reality is the members of this elusive club

see past all Gatsby’s lies and reaches, and see him for who he is, not one of them. Gatsby’s fraud

character, contrary to what he believed, is only pushing him further and further away from the

green light, Not only does Gatsby attempt to reach the light through ridiculous possessions,

obscured parties, and fibs about his past, he also reaches out to his neighbor pretending to be his

friend, when he is just using him to get what he wants. Not only does Gatsby prove countless

times that he is a fraud, but he also shows signs of a deception and manipulative personality,

leaving many to wonder, is that who Americans really consider a hero?