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Gatsby's outlook on his life also changes and he becomes depressed since he begins to believe that he cannot please Daisy; "'She didn't like it,' he insisted. 'She didn't have a good time'" (Fitzgerald 105). He goes from throwing parties all the time and trying to please Daisy, to sitting at his pool, alone and sad, knowing that he can't have Daisy as he planned and wanted since she doesn't love him or the way he lives.

Character Summary and Traits

Fitzgerald initially presents Gatsby as the popular, mysterious host of the unbelievably lavish parties thrown every week at his mansion. He is given a divine persona as he a celebrity and is the subject of a whirlwind of gossip throughout. This persona is a result of his most defined trait, Gatsby’s ability to transform his hopes and dreams into reality.

Through his continual pursuit of Daisy, Gatsby reveals himself to be an innocent, hopeful young man who stakes everything on his dreams.

Gatsby’s character is a reflection of Fitzgerald’s perspective on the failure of the American dream in the 1920s. Specifically on how America’s powerful optimism, vitality, and individualism became secondary to the pursuit of wealth.

How does Gatsby change in the story?

Symbols

The Green Light:

It is a light located at the end of Daisy's dock in the East Egg that symbolizes Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future along with his quest for Daisy. In the first chapter, Gatsby is caught by Nick reaching for the light in the darkness. The light also symbolizes Gatsby’s dream to achieve the aristocratic status that Tom has.

Body Biography: Jay Gatsby

Manhasset Bay:

A change that Gatsby goes through is in how he sees Daisy. At first, he thinks that she will love him, his fortune, and his lavish parties. He soon, however, discovers that she does not enjoy what he has to offer. Additionally, when Gatsby realizes that he cannot win Daisy over with his wealth, he resorts to trying to convince her and Tom that she still loves him and that she only made a mistake going with Tom due to loneliness. Gatsby also changes here because he changes from trying to win Daisy over with wealth to trying to force her emotionally to leave Tom and go with him.

This is the body of water between the East and West Egg which symbolizes the material, moral and social aspects that separate Gatsby from Daisy. Gatsby continually looks out onto the bay and contemplates the struggle he has as a character, to bridge the gap between him and Daisy.

Mirror, Mirror

What do you think Gatsby's main focus is?

Gatsby appears to be a person who likes to have parties and drink. There are many rumors surrounding his identity as he is a mysterious person. In reality, however, he is just a young man trying to win back the love of his life and be accepted in the bourgeoisie class of society.

A Spine at the Heart

The picture of the green light represents the light across the sound that Gatsby can see from his mansion. It represents how he feels very distant from Daisy, but yet is so close to her. This light shines at the end of an East Egg dock near Daisy's home.

Mario A., Damian C., Viktoria C., Brian P.

ENG 3UN

Heart

Colours

The great Jay Gatsby is obsessed with rekindling the love that he and Daisy shared many years ago. He actually buys a house just to be near Daisy and hopes that she will walk into one of his lavish parties. Jordan Baker explains to Nick how "'Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay'" (Fitzgerald 76). Gatsby also tries to act kind to all people to show Daisy what a good person he is and to ultimately try and win her heart. Gatsby, however, does try to fight Tom, saying that Daisy still loves him and not Tom. Gatsby argues with Tom saying "'Your wife doesn't love you,' said Gatsby. 'She's never loved you. She loves me'" (Fitzgerald 124). Gatsby insists that Daisy still loves him like she did years ago and that going with Tom was a mistake.

Yellow and gold are colours often associated with Gatsby in the novel. Gold represents money, old money in particular. Gatsby strives to be accepted as old money, that is his ultimate life goal.

Everything that Gatsby wants is described by gold, he calls Daisy, "the golden girl" (Fitzgerald 120). Yellow on the other hand is the colour of pyrite, a.k.a. fake gold. It represents deceit and betrayal, both feeling Gatsby has encountered in the past.

-Stubborn

"Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can!" (Fitzgerald 110)

Does not give up unrequited love of Daisy.

-Mysterious

Gatsby's traits:

Distances himself from party guests and does not openly reveal his back story. This leads to rumours.

-Positive

He thinks that Daisy will fall back in love with him when they meet again.

Virtues and Vices

Virtues:

-Determined

He worked to become rich so that he could be with Daisy

-Polite

Invites Nick to fly his new plane, even though they had only met. He also does not disrespect Tom, although they both love Daisy

-Loyal

He loved Daisy for years even when they didn't speak to each other, and that she was married.

Virtues and Vices

Vices:

-Too Generous

Gatsby holds parties in order to, one day, find Daisy at one of them, ignoring the fact that the people attending are only there for the party, and are not actually his friends.

-Dishonest

He first tells Nick a fake back story, or stretches the truth of his true back story which Nick is told by Jordan later on.

-Self centered

"he wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: 'I never loved you.' After she had obliterated four years with that sentence they could decide upon the more practical to be taken." (Fitzgerald 125)

-Delusional

"There must have been moments... when Daisy tumbled short of his dream - not through her own fault, but because of his colossal vitality of his illusion." (Fitzgerald 152)

I am Gatsby

I am young and rich

I wonder if anyone will come to my funeral

I hear Daisy's beautiful voice

I see the green light

I want Daisy's love

I pretend that I am happy

I feel like nobody likes me

I touch Daisy's lips in my dreams

I worry I will die lonely

I cry that Daisy can't be with me

I am Gatsby

I understand that Daisy loves Tom for his status

I say I will be happy with Daisy

I dream of being accepted in the upper class

I try to make sure everyone has a good time

I hope Nick will help me win his cousin

I am Gatsby

Jumbled life

Affluent

Youthful wishing

Genteel

Aloof

Terribly doubtful

Scandalous

Bootlegger

Yearning

Where I'm From: Jay Gatsby

I'm from the humble streets of North Dakota,

I'm from meetings I had with Daisy in Louisville,

I'm from World War One,

I'm from spending long nights studying at Oxford,

I'm from selling grain alcohol,

I'm from my gothic mansion in the West Egg,

I'm from endlessly gazing out onto the bay,

I'm from my love, Daisy Buchanan,

I'm from my large, decadent parties,

I'm from my neighbor and friend, Nick Carraway,

I'm from turning my dreams into reality.

The Valley of Ashes

The area between the West Egg and New York City is a long stretch of desolate land created by the dumping of industrial ashes. This symbolizes the aftermath of pursuit of wealth as the rich indulge themselves without concern of others. It also depicts consequences of the rich’s self-absorption and the failure of the American dream as it is a poverty stricken area.

“This is a valley of ashes – a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of ash-grey men, who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air."

(Fitzgerald 26)

Where I'm From (Haiku)

"I couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made […]." (Fitzgerald 170)

From North Dakota

Made my fortune in New York

Live out in West Egg

Tom faces very little consequence for his actions when compared to George Wilson.

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