The Great Gatsby
In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby did not fit into the lifestyle of Daisy and
her friends. Because of his background, his dreams were destined to be shattered even
before he tried to achieve them. Jay Gatsby's nouveau riche lifestyle was not of the
ways of the old rich.
Jay Gatsby killed James Gatz at the age of seventeen as he boarded Dan Cody's yacht. It
was "...James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that afternoon...but it was
already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a rowboat...and informed Cody that a wind might catch him
and break him up..." (ch. 4, pp. 98-9). When he got on the yacht he was forever known as
Jay Gatsby. Gatsby thought he left his past behind him.
James Gatz came from North Dakota. His parents "...were shiftless and unsuccessful farm
people..." (ch. 4, p. 99). Gatsby made his money very mysteriously, while the rest of
the group inherited their money. This background put Jay Gatsby on a different level
than the group he was trying to become a part of. Therefore he was never really accepted
as one of the group.
In an effort to be accepted by the group, Gatsby tried to show off his valuables and
gave elaborate parties. He tried to make an impression on these people. Many to these
people went to these parties "...without having met Gatsby at all" (ch. 3,p. 41).
Gatsby did not have a formal education. His background did not support the background of
the old wealth. He lived in West Egg, "...the less fashionable of the two..." (ch. 1, p.
5). The old rich would not live there.
Jay Gatsby could have never in his life been a part of the old rich. Even with changing
his names and and lifestyle, he could have never changed his interior. He would always
been James Gatz.
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