Jay Gatsby's Personality

‘Gatsby who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away. This responsiveness had nothing to do with that flabby impressionability which is dignified under the name of the “creative temperament”—it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again. ’(Fitzgerald 2).

Secondly, Gatsby is a very mysterious character. Nick has been Gatsby’s neighbor, or so he thinks, and has never met him. Nick says “It was Gatsby’s mansion, or, rather, as I didn’t know Mr. Gatsby, it was a mansion inhabited by a gentleman of that name” (5). This shows you that even Gatsby’s own neighbor does not even know who he is; which shows that Gatsby is mysterious. Later on, once he actually meets Gatsby, Nick goes on to say “I don’t like mysteries, and I don’t understand why you won’t come out frankly and tell me what you want. Why does it all have to come through Miss Baker?” (71). As expected, this frustrates Nick and gives him more reason to believe that Gatsby is mysterious and not trustworthy. Nick doesn’t understand why someone who seems to be his friend is hiding so much

The speech characterises Gatsby using Nick’s personal experiences with him. For example, he talks about how Gatsby waited to make sure that Daisy was safe. This put Gatsby in a positive light, characterising

Nick is very impressed by Gatsby’s smile. On page 48, it says, “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.” After he gets over this moment, he mentions how he speaks very formally almost to the point of being absurd.

Fitzgerald uses Gatsby's parties and the way in which Nick views them to reveal that whilst Gatsby is surrounded by shallow and vulgar people, he is above this. Fitzgerald also uses these parties to expose Gatsby's isolation which leads us to feel sympathy toward Gatsby. Despite the amount of people at the party, Nick observes Gatsby's seclusion and loneliness, "my eyes fell to Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps". This evokes a great deal of sympathy from us as although Nick describes Gatsby in a warm and friendly way, "It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life", we now can see that Gatsby is a lonely figure. This sympathy is accentuated when Nick is the only person to turn up to Gatsby's funeral, as we know that Gatsby is a decent and honourable character and thus our sympathies are emphasised by Gatsby's isolation. When Nick first meets Gatsby, he reveals Gatsby to be a fascinating character that we would like to know more about. The warm and assuring smile that Nick describes is in antithesis to the

-Significant Quotations: 1.) “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance … seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor… believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself” (Fitzgerald 48). The primary importance of this statement from an outsider’s point of view is to understand the social persona/perception and charisma of Gatsby, as well as that of many socialites within the novel. Regarding such, the weight of his importance as a person (not narratively) would make one feel chosen or temporarily significant, and that this reassurance could be reflected unto oneself; however, Nick comments on how this only appears to be the case, as he determines that this demeanour is likely to appease a conversation and that Gatsby is simply performing his role, a veneer common amongst those placed in that position and possible from the gossip he has heard. Furthermore, despite the purpose/general effect of the smile to be that it makes one cheered or encouraged, Nick appears to avoid this entirely, which can be factored into by considering his lower view of himself later in the novel/his self-doubt, thus describing that this lifestyle/Gatsby himself could only have such an effect on someone seeking optimism already, somewhat of an implication of Gatsby’s more disastrous activities and also subtly shares the belief of one’s own self-optimism and confidence that allows

Gatsby exemplifies this trait because he cared for others, even if he barely knew them. At one of his parties, Nick overhears a woman saying, “‘when I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked my name and address -- inside of a week I got a package from Croirier’s with a new evening gown in it’” (43). Gatsby barely knew this person, and yet replaced her expensive, ruined gown for her, even though it wasn’t his fault it got ripped. This shows that Gatsby is caring and wants to please everyone. Nick also recognizes Gatsby’s caring manner for people he doesn’t know when he describes that Gatsby had “waited five years and and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths” (78). Nick means that Gatsby had bought this super expensive mansion, which he worked very hard to get, and then used it to provide happiness to dull rich partygoers he didn’t even know. Gatsby loves to please people and cares for them which certainly brings out the blue in

At the first party we are introduced to in the novel, the narrator of the novel, Nick Carraway, is formally invited to it. This is highly unusual because most of Gatsby guests just show up. Throughout the night Nick hears different stories of Gatsby, and doesn 't recognize Gatsby when having a conversation with him. Nick characterizes Gatsby as such, "He smiled understandingly- much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or fives times in life. It faced-or seemed to face-the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that is had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. Precisely at that point it vanished-and I was looking at an elegant young rough-neck, a year or two over thirty, whose elaborate formality of speech just missed being absurd. Some time before he introduced himself I 'd got a strong impression that he was picking his words with care.” (Fitzgerald 52-53) This is the first time we actually get to meet Gatsby. It presents Gatsby in his wealthy element and gives him a sense of pride and strength. It shows Gatsby living the American Dream, being surrounded by all the power and wealth.

Gatsby puts Nick at ease with his soothing, reassuring smile and Nick personifies it, demonstrating both his initial state of innocent beguilement and Gatsby’s successful deployment of a facade. The smile “seemed to face [...] the whole external world” and “understood,” “believed in,” and “assured” Nick (Fitzgerald 48). The protective nature of an understanding personal focus is generally only prominent in parental figures who hold power and influence. The physical representation of his alternate persona, Gatsby’s smile takes on supportive human qualities. Nick describes the smile as he would a person, revealing how he views it—and Gatsby’s facade—in a similar fashion.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway sees Jay Gatsby as a friend, although the other people in the story see Gatsby as a dishonest and disgraceful man. When Nick first meets Gatsby, Nick’s rich neighbor, he does not immediately recognize him. However, after some time, Nick notices that Gatsby has “one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four of five times in a life” (Fitzgerald 52). This shows the readers that Gatsby has a certain characteristic that seems to attract people to him. However, this aura of godliness begins to fade to the outside world as people begin to see what Gatsby is truly like although this image never seems to fade for Nick.

One thing that surprises me about Nick is that he was loyal to Gatsby who seemed likeable enough but empty inside. He seemed like the picture was more important than the real person. Nick was interested in person and would put himself in a bad light to help a friend. “I didn’t want to go to the city. I wasn’t worth a decent stroke

Gatsby’s peculiar actions at the party make one question his reasoning for throwing such meaningless events. When seeing Gatsby, Nick takes notice in a quality in Gatsby that cannot go unnoticed, which happens to be his smile. Nick describes the smile of Gatsby as “one of those rare smiles quality or eternal reassurance in it" revealing the smile conveys a safe and welcoming essence which draws people in, including Nick himself (48). With Gatsby being this mysterious, unknown man many misconceptions are made about him. Gatsby can be whomever people imagine him to be because no one truly knows who he is.

Gatsby’s smile captivates Nick, making him feel safe and cared about. His smile disappears right after he introduces himself to Nick and the butler comes for him. Once Gatsby leaves Nick is surprised at how nice he was because he had assumed and heard such awful things about Gatsby.

During their first encounter, Nick notices that Gatsby is reserved and chooses his words carefully, as if not to reveal anything. The language and choice of words Gatsby uses indicate his reserved disposition and enigmatic features. This particular manner of being conscientious when speaking to others hints that Gatsby does not want to disrespect anyone so he is wary when speaking to new people. In addition, the moment that Nick learns that the man whom he is talking to at the party is actually Gatsby, the host, he urgently excuses himself but Gatsby handles it with grace and comprehension. This is seen during their dialogue: “"What!" I exclaimed. "Oh, I beg your pardon." "I thought you knew, old sport. I'm afraid I'm not a very good host." He smiled understandingly much more than understandingly.”” (Fitzgerald 26) Both Nick and Gatsby express embarrassment in the situation but Gatsby quickly recovers and manages it nonchalantly. Lastly, at the end of their meeting, Gatsby says to Nick to ask if he ever wants something, thus showing his true humbleness. Gatsby always tries to make people feel welcome and embraced, so he puts their needs first and offers to help them in anything he can. As opposed to Tom Buchanan, Gatsby is a more virtuous person who lives his life humbly and

Although to Nick, Gatsby seems at once completely unoriginal, extremely knowable, being with him, he notes, was "like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines” (Fitzgerald 55). Gatsby, in Nick’s point of view, was disruptive. He is unable to trust Gatsby, for a fear that he would just vanish at the moment in which a promise leans toward its fulfillment.