Describing Quote
"The truth was that Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself. He was a son of God - a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that - and he must be about His Father's Business, the service of vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty." (Fitzgerald, 104)
- Plato's theory of universals is that every object in the universe represents an incomplete copy of a perfect version of that object
- Jay Gatsby sprang from James Gatz, Gatsby is Gatz's Platonic conception of himself, his perfect version of himself
- Gatsby's lifestyle is vulgar, meretricious and he is consumed with himself
- Plato's theory of universals is that every object in the universe represents an incomplete copy of a perfect version of that object
- Jay Gatsby sprang from James Gatz, Gatsby is Gatz's Platonic conception of himself, his perfect version of himself
- Gatsby's lifestyle is vulgar, meretricious and he is consumed with himself
Good Qualities
Pure Heart:
- Good intentions - Wants people to enjoy parties - Truly loves Daisy Hard Working: - Devotes life to becoming wealthy improving social status - Creates entire persona of Jay Gatsby Friendly: - Relationship with Nick - Invites Tom to next party |
Bad Qualities
Liar:
- Creates a mysterious false persona - How he acuired his wealth - Lies to hide corruption Manipulative: - Uses Nick to get to Daisy - Uses Jordan to get to Daisy - Throws parties in hope Daisy will come Naïve: - Believes he can recreate the past - Thinks Daisy will leave Tom - Thinks money can buy him Daisy and anything he desires |
Gatsby's Role in The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsbyʼs role in the novel is the mysterious dramatic protagonist who devotes his life to becoming wealthy, improving his social class, and obtaining his true love, Daisy. These hedonistic values convey the pursuit of the American dream during the 1920ʼs, and the extent to which some will go to achieve their aspirations. Gatsbyʼs pure heart has been corrupted in his journey to obtain his American dream. He is corrupted through wealth, women, and the idea of a higher social class. Throughout the novel Gatsby is searching to complete the final piece of his American dream through the reconnection with Daisy. However, due to his naive characteristics, Gatsby is unaware of the corruption surrounding his fantasy. This corruption in turn, leads to the downfall of Jay Gatsby later on in the novel.