The Mystery That Was Jay Gatsby - 1272 Words

The Mystery that was Jay Gatsby â€Å"I carry on a little business on the side, a sort of sideline, you understand† (Fitzgerald 87). In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this is the closest Jay Gatsby comes to revealing how he actually made his fortune. And even here, he doesn’t reveal much, but Nick Carraway assumes it’s something illegal when Gatsby goes on to say, â€Å"It happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing† (Fitzgerald 88). Gatsby is a mysterious man. Because he is evasive and even untruthful about his life and wealth, everyone around Gatsby makes up their own stories about him. Gatsby’s background is so unfathomable, it is speculated that he acquired his money by playing a part in illegal activities including fixing the 1919 World Series and Prohibition. Jay Gatsby’s is a rags-to-riches story that on the surface appears to be the fulfillment of the American Dream. Born James Gatz, he comes from the Midwest, specifically North Dakota. His parents were unsuccessful farmers. He was determined to be leave poverty behind. He first became the personal assistant of Dan Cody, who he happened to meet on Lake Superior. Cody gave him his first taste of wealth, and he liked it. They traveled around the world three times and stayed together for five years. After Cody died, Gatsby went into the military. It was during that time that he met Daisy Buchanan, a rich socialite. He fell in love with her, but because he was not wealthy, Daisy’s family did not approve of theirShow MoreRelatedEssay The Character of Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby526 Words   |  3 PagesThe Character of Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby Time tells us that success often comes with a price. Often money will create more problems than it can solve. The richness of a person’s soul can be hidden in the folds of money. Such is the case of Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is constantly altering in the readers mind due to the various puzzling events that transpire in the novel creating a level of mystery. First off, Gatsby is a man who feels secure in his privacy and allows very few peopleRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald901 Words   |  4 PagesGreat Gatsby and one of his short stories â€Å"Winter Dreams†. Each tell a cunning tale of romance and â€Å"the one who got away†. These two tales provide a glimpse into the lives of the rich and poor in the dazzling â€Å"Jazz Age†. However, these two stories have their differences, and they each have similar points for the reader to discover. Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novels there are numerous differences and similarities that bring out the best of the plot, setting, and imagery. 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Fitzgerald portrays Gatsby as a man who everyone wants to know and copy but deep down are very envious of him. Gatsby trusts few people and those whom he trusts know his life story. To everyone else, he is a mystery. Everyone seems obsessed with Jay Gatsby. For this reasonRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1720 Words   |  7 Pagesthem prosperity in life. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald delves into the American Dream and it’s demise. Fitzgerald focuses on the character of Jay Gatsby to materialize the false image that the American Dream created in the 1920’s. Gatsby is the protagonist of the novel, and is famous for throwing massive parties regardless of the secret life that he lives. The narrator, Nick Carraway, dives into Jay Gatsby’s li fe and the vision of the American Dream. 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The other side of stories is much less understood. They’re all the same. This can be seen through the examination of archetypes, most importantly the hero vs the villain. It can be seen in every tale imaginableRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby957 Words   |  4 PagesJay Gatsby is scrutinized over and over for his role in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. His actions and character traits result in his character being deeply investigated by many literary scholars and critics worldwide. To the reader, Gatsby is a somewhat mysterious man for most of the novel. Other characters discuss Gatsby and speculate about how he became wealthy until Fitzgerald revea ls towards the end of the novel that Gatsby is a crook and makes all of his money as a part of Meyer Wolfsheim’sRead More Jay Gatsby is a Sympathetic Character in Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby597 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby provides the reader with a unique outlook on the life of the newly rich. Gatsby is an enigma and a subject of great curiosity, furthermore, he is content with a lot in life until he strives too hard. His obsession with wealth, his lonely life and his delusion allow the reader to sympathize with him. Initially, Gatsby stirs up sympathetic feelings because of his obsession with wealth. Ever since meeting Dan Cody, his fascination for wealth hasRead More Hamlet and The Great Gatsby1134 Words   |  4 Pagesaccomplish. One could already relate the two main protagonists of Hamlet and The Great Gatsby just by looking at the titles of the novels! Hamlet and Jay Gatsby are two characters, who can easily be overanalyzed without truly researching into their own stories and unveiling just who these two gentlemen are, for they are enigmas, and can be scrutinized into being more similar than one may think. Hamlet and The Great Gatsby each have stories within stories within stories. Characters in both synopses are