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Reality In The Great Gatsby

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The Reality of Grandeur Wealth carries an immeasurable value. Trilling’s comment, although not directly aimed at The Great Gatsby, is still applicable because of its broader motif. Jay Gatsby first-handedly experienced the psychological effects of reality and illusion in relation to questions of social class as he battled with his identity and his attempts to woo Daisy Buchanan. It was irony, as the discrepancy between expectation and reality slowly but surely began to show itself. Who Gatsby was and who he wanted to be were two different people. The changing of his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby for the sake of imagery is a prime example of this. His old name, which was bestowed upon him by his poor, farming parents, decidedly wasn’t …show more content…

The young Gatsby of 1917 was a poor soldier, preparing to be shipped off to war. Daisy, a debutante from a wealthy family in Louisville, was in an entirely different class at the time. This she didn’t know, as Gatsby lied to her and pretended he came from a wealthy background as well. He knew that this was the only way she’d bother to give him the time of day over the gaggle of other soldiers begging for attention. Daisy personifies what Gatsby thought he always wanted, and the beautiful picture he had painted of her in his mind was the illusion. Regardless of whether or not Gatsby came to terms with the reality of her capricious nature is unknown, but it was well recognized by her cousin, Nick. Fast forward five years and Gatsby had become the person he’d originally told Daisy he was. Gatsby had big ideas worked up in his mind that since he was now wealthy, Daisy would fall right into his arms. His fantasy since 1919 would finally be able to come true, and they could pick up where they left off. It was cold reality when Daisy chose Tom over Gatsby, taking the easy way out. Her whimsical attitude is rather careless and didn’t allow her to love Gatsby in a long term capacity. Daisy’s high class perfection was what Gatsby admired and desired to obtain for himself, but it was something that he could never have because it never

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