Jay Gatsby Transformation

Words: 724
Pages: 3
Open Document
“Human beings have an inalienable right to invent themselves” (Germain Greer). This quote is basically saying that humans have the right to change. Jay Gatsby, a superficial character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a great example of how humans invent themselves. As a child he knew who he had to be to get what he wanted, so he spent his life becoming that person. Through the way Gatsby became rich, Fitzgerald implies his agreement that humans have the right to invent themselves.
Gatsby tried to reinvent himself to prove he was a wealthy man. Since Gatsby was a little boy he knew he wanted to be rich. His parents did not have the same mindset as him so knew he needed to leave that lifestyle and create a new one. He probably …show more content…
Jay Gatsby was described as, “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 98). Nick in this quote isn't referring to God or Gatsby biological father but he means his father figure, Dan Cody. Gatsby is introduced to greed and wants to follow Cody’s path into the rich and wealthy world. Gatsby, “was still searching for something to do on that day Dan Cody’s yacht dropped anchor in the shallows alongshore” (Fitzgerald 105). When Cody shows up and sees Gatsby and asks him if he wants to make money, he accepts. This shows where gatsby got his drive and ambition from. INTEGRATE “I remember the portrait of him up in Gatsby’s bedroom, a grey, florid man with a empty hard face” (Fitzgerald 100). Gatsby and Cody were not just coworkers but they were also best friends. The picture in the room shows he'll never forget who made him a rich man. Cody taught Gatsby how to become a rich man.
Clearly, F. Scott Fitzgerald would agree with J. K. Rowling: Humans have an inalienable right to invent themselves. Jay Gatsby has the right to invent himself but his choices reveal the core of his character: A thief and a gangster. He decides to reinvent himself, leaving his past behind. His choices defined him. Throughout everyone's life we like to reinvent ourselves. When were little kids we either thought about being a dancer, detective, firefighter, or a
Show More

Related Documents: Jay Gatsby Transformation

Literary Analysis Of The Great Gatsby

Future That Year By Year Recedes Before Us": A Literary Analysis of the Significance of Idealism and Truth on Gatsby's life. At the time of The Great Gatsby America was wrought with corruption, racism, high wage gaps, and recklessness all veiled by the glamorization of post-war money, new found freedom for women, and extravagant parties. For Jay Gatsby the country he lives in is overwhelmed with false senses of hope for the economy and materialism. The greed felt by society as well as materialistic…

Words 2111 - Pages 9

Daisy's American Dream In The Great Gatsby

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby wants nothing more than a love and a life with his long lost lover, Daisy; she is his American Dream. Gatsby holds onto a semblance of hope that some day he can achieve his dream, and he goes an extreme length to assure it happens. In the end, Gatsby’s untimely death illuminates these extreme lengths he dares to go to achieve his American Dream. Contrary to telling Nick that he inherited his wealth, Gatsby in fact acquired a large portion of his…

Words 616 - Pages 3

The Great Gatsby Character Analysis

The Great Gatsby, the main character, Nick, introduces Jay Gatsby as a divine being, even though he does not really know much about him at this point. Nick only knows of a man that discreetly watches him from his bedroom in his mansion. As the story progresses, a series of events that occur guide Nick to find out the truth about Gatsby. Throughout the story, Nick’s view of Gatsby clearly changes from Gatsby acquiring traits of divinity to just being a human being. Nick portrays Gatsby as a figure…

Words 1215 - Pages 5

Gatz Vs. Prehn Reading Response

2024 Gatz vs. Gatsby In chapter nine, Jay Gatsby’s father, or Mr. Gatz, is introduced to Nick due to Mr. Gatz coming to Gatzby’s funeral. When he speaks to Nick, there is a clear contrast between Nick referring to Jay as “Gatzby” and his father, Mr. Gatz, referring to him as James Gatz. The reason why there is contrast is unclear, but can be explained. While they are conversing, Mr. Gatz shows Nick and Jame’s old schedule from September 12, 1906, which emphasizes how special Jay really was due to…

Words 351 - Pages 2

Masculinity In The Great Gatsby

tear rolls down her sky-filled face. Three pearls decorate her hair as a city skyline fills the space below. This cover by Francis Cugat contrasts the glamor of the city skyline with the sorrow, excess, power, and pleasure found throughout The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The woman’s empty face on the cover of this novel signifies the empty success and consequential sorrow, represented by the tear, many characters experience in the novel. Furthermore, the pearls represent the pleasure and excess…

Words 1354 - Pages 6

The Color Green In The Great Gatsby

To close off, Fitzgerald uses the color green in a clever way to represent the themes implemented into The Great Gatsby and its characters, most primarily into Jay Gatsby. In the bustling, flashy and vivid time that was the Roaring Twenties, it is the color green that stands out the most in Fitzgerald’s story, regardless of it potential effects. Green comes to represent the search for a new beginning, hope, materialism at the cost of corruption, and being ambitious, things that were prominent during…

Words 1741 - Pages 7

Eyes Of Dr. J. Eckleburg Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

Gatsby: The Story of Us Jay Gatsby is one of the most memorable characters ever written in literature. Whether it be his extravagant parties, his overwhelming wealth, or simply his compassionate smile, Gatsby never fails to captivate the reader. Although Mr. Gatsby plays a large role in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s critically acclaimed novel The Great Gatsby, there is a stronger force at work within this literary classic. Sometimes hidden deep within the lines or even standing in plain sight, symbolism…

Words 1663 - Pages 7

How Does Daisy Create Corruption In The Great Gatsby

driven by their loved ones frequently lead to deterioration or revolution. Jay Gatsby, without a doubt, is a character in The Great Gatsby who was sickly in love, which led to his corruption and, ultimately, his death. With this information evident, love was not the only enticement that motivated him to remake his life, where he obtained an unfathomable amount of fortune to win the heart of his former love, Daisy. Gatsby turned to corruption not only due to…

Words 376 - Pages 2

How Is Love Justified In The Great Gatsby

motivating the individual to improvement and evolution, with both positive and negative consequences. Fitzgerald’s monolithic novel, The Great Gatsby, is a prime example of love as a catalyst. Essentially, it is love for Daisy Buchanan, whom he met at a military station, that invokes James Gatz’s rebirth into Jay Gatsby. However, the means of this transformation are inherently questionable. Gatsby’s fortune was derived from the illegal sale of liquor during the prohibition. While bootlegging is nearly…

Words 279 - Pages 2

Characteristics Of Nick Carraway In The Great Gatsby

The Greatest Friend of Gatsby Although we see Gatsby’s name in the title, we find that Nick Carraway is a very crucial piece to the puzzle when it comes to this story. By this story I mean The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Nick being the narrator of the story, it could be difficult to figure out what his personality is because he hides behind his work. Nick changes quite a bit throughout the course of this novel and with this transformation he inches a little farther into our hearts with…

Words 485 - Pages 2