Gatsy Characterization

In the novel The Great Gatsby, author F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts Gatsby as an optimistic,

determined, naive gentleman, struggling to extricate Daisy from the despair brought upon by marriage

and rekindle the passionate love they shared. Gatsby once lost her because of his social status and poor

lifestyle. Throughout the novel, he not only concealed the truth about his backstory and fabricated a

persona, but he also charmed and excited Daisy by displaying his wealth through extravagant parties,

exotic, breathtaking wardrobes, and flashy cars - and it did. Even when Gatsby was in the war and that

Daisy and Tom married and sired a child, Gatsby never doubts their love for each other and confronts

Tom about the affair. Fitzgerald highlights Gatsby's confidence in the love between him and Daisy as a

commentary on the social class tension between the wealthy and the poor. And he also demonstrates how

Gatsby, a poor person who is ashamed of his past social class, can achieve that wealthy status he yearned

for, eternalizing his love for Daisy and fulfilling the promise he failed to uphold long ago. Furthermore,

both Fitzgerald and Gatsby both chased after the "American Dream" fantasy - poor people can ascend to a

higher, wealthier class if they are prepared to work diligently and sacrifice their assets and morality.

Although it is worth noting the optimism and perseverance these men process, that does not

change the fact that they ended up living a sad, miserable life. After acquiring wealth, status, and power,

Gatsby strives to win over Daisy and defends their eternal love for each other - yet Daisy's "perceptible

reluctance" challenges his beliefs since she could not accept that she has never loved Tom. Furthermore,

during the confrontation, Gatsby never acknowledged Daisy's subtle struggles to admit she never loved

Tom, even going as far as suggesting and inputting his thoughts and emotions on Daisy's "behalf."

Fitzgerald not only explores how cruel and dangerous reality can be towards people's expectations, but he

also displays the degree to which people are willing to defend their beliefs no matter how fantasy-like it

is. From Gatsby's perspective, it is easy for him to escape from the harsh reality and accept his ideal
fantasy, making him very naive to believe that he can win Daisy's affection, bypassing Tom's aggression,

and many more unforeseen consequences without being scathed.