The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby, the titular character of Fitzgerald’s most famous work, was a self-made man. He was born a poor farmer, digging clams, and, by a series of events, discovered that he would much rather be rich than be poor. He began to participate in illegal activities; most likely the smuggling of alcohol during prohibitions, and made the full transformation from rags to riches. In the novel however, Gatsby never reaches his true ambitions; for he can never have the status that those with money passed down from the previous generation have. He can never have the woman who he wishes to court. And, finally, because of his attempts to achieve these things, despite the already married status of his dream woman, he is murdered.
All of the tragedy of Gatsby can be derived from the fact that he is forced to do things in secret, as is often the case for the rebellious and for those who wish to take things into their own hands. Because he loves Daisy, he takes the blame for Daisy’s vehicular manslaughter of Myrtle, whose husband kills Gatsby. This is a result of Gatsby’s desire to court Daisy, and not be open with whole thing, and to Wilson, the husband of Myrtle, who does not know of all the various affairs going on, Gatsby seems like a potential suitor of Myrtle regardless. And so, because of Gatsby’s pursuit of a married woman, his attempt to marry a rich and married woman, and break the bonds of society, turning new wealth into old wealth, Gatsby dies. He was forced into a tragic pursuit of a breakdown of the American System; a displacement of the rich, or at least a new and permanent member into their midst. But, he died an untimely death due to circumstances that were forced upon him, especially the suspicion with which the other characters held him, due to his ability to acquire wealth when he was once poor. Gatsby’s rebellion, like many, was quashed by the American System’s social inertia.
All of the tragedy of Gatsby can be derived from the fact that he is forced to do things in secret, as is often the case for the rebellious and for those who wish to take things into their own hands. Because he loves Daisy, he takes the blame for Daisy’s vehicular manslaughter of Myrtle, whose husband kills Gatsby. This is a result of Gatsby’s desire to court Daisy, and not be open with whole thing, and to Wilson, the husband of Myrtle, who does not know of all the various affairs going on, Gatsby seems like a potential suitor of Myrtle regardless. And so, because of Gatsby’s pursuit of a married woman, his attempt to marry a rich and married woman, and break the bonds of society, turning new wealth into old wealth, Gatsby dies. He was forced into a tragic pursuit of a breakdown of the American System; a displacement of the rich, or at least a new and permanent member into their midst. But, he died an untimely death due to circumstances that were forced upon him, especially the suspicion with which the other characters held him, due to his ability to acquire wealth when he was once poor. Gatsby’s rebellion, like many, was quashed by the American System’s social inertia.