Reputation In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a novel that, superficially, seems like the tragic story of infatuation and misunderstanding. However, set in 1920s America, it can be read in a number of different ways. This post-war period was a time of economic boom and rapid change in technological advances led to fashionable, more affluent and carefree lives. Alcohol was banned as a direct response to hedonism of the time but ironically it encouraged corruption and a black market. The speed of change and modernity was both exciting and overwhelming. Thus we see that this was a time of glamour

It is insinuated that Gatsby did not make his money in the most ethical way when Tom shares that he “found what your ‘drug-stores’ were” and explains that Gatsby and Wolfsheim purchased side-street drug stores and sold alcohol over the counter, which was illegal at the time (Fitzgerald 100). Gatsby covers this scheme up with talk of inheriting his money from old family, but is not very consistent in his lies, as Nick notices him use several different answers at separate times. “I think he hardly knew what he was saying when I asked him what business he was in he answered, ‘That’s my affair’ before he realized that it wasn’t the appropriate reply” (Fitzgerald 103). While Gatsby may have been successful in his illegal money affairs, this does not mean his efforts were not wasted on someone unworthy of the time and money

In a materialistic world, information about a man’s background or financial situation often becomes a significant factor in reflecting that person’s status. As a result, people hide the ugly truths behind the fabricated stories to gain a good reputation. Some people take to the extent of losing themselves in the myths to create a desirable façade to cover up their shameful truths about the past. However, truths are bound to be revealed sooner or later and the consequence can result in terrible adversities of the subject. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby lives in his own imaginative world in which his background is believed to be reputable, financial status is solid and social standing is respectable; however, in reality, he is born of a poor family, earns money illegally, and has a poor social connection. Since Gatsby the man, is blinded by the mythical world that he creates for himself, he is unable to recognize reality; as a result, he causes his own demise and ends up losing everything including his life.

In Gatsby’s mission to attain wealth, power, and status he loses sight of his morals through his “dealings” with various shady people that are rumored to be lucrative and illegal. The extent of Gatsby’s criminal activities is confirmed by Tom Buchanan one hot summer night when Tom shares that Gatsby and “Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores…and sold grain alcohol over the counter,” (133) an illegal venture during prohibition. In addition to Gatsby’s business investments, his obsession with winning Daisy clouds his mind with thoughts of inspiring her to leave her husband and abandoned her child. Nick believes Gatsby would “want nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you,’” (109) and prove her marriage was a sham.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famed novel The Great Gatsby incorporates many dynamic characters and situations into the world of the Roaring Twenties. Given the title, many readers will argue over whether the main character, Jay Gatsby, a mysterious man who throws elaborate parties, was truly great or not. The true definition of great is one who is selfless, pure of any illegal actions, and who doesn’t lie. Gatsby rebelled against all of these characteristics. Gatsby was selfish, committed illegal actions and lied about his overall past. Using these three reasons, one can prove that Jay Gatsby was not as great as some believed him to be.

A marvelous novel, “The Great Gatsby” written during the 1920’s by F. Scott Fitzgerald proposes a question about the truth of being “great”. The novel's protagonist, Nick Carraway grows close to Jay Gatsby; a rich, party man. Carraway strongly believes that Gatsby deserves to be known as “great.” Nevertheless, Gatsby should not be considered “great” for many reasons. To list a few, Gatsby does not do anything extraordinary to earn the title of “great”, does not work hard for success, and pretends to be somebody he wishes to be.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents Jay Gatsby as an immoral man who acquires his wealth through corruption. He associates Gatsby with felonious characters such as Meyer Wolfsheim, who fixed the 1919 World Series. However, readers still receive Gatsby favorably. Although Gatsby acts dishonestly, he captures the reader’s sympathy because of his ambitious, romantic, and genuine personality.

The first thing you see when you pick up this book is the Title “The Great Gatsby”

Several years passed and Gatsby joined the army. He survived the war and his dreams did too. After the war Gatsby met a man by the name of Meyer Wolfsheim. Once again, Gatsby’s upper class like manners allowed him to make a good first impression and find a path to wealth. According to Mr. Wolfsheim, “I had discovered a man of fine breeding... There’s the kind of man you’d like to take home and introduce to your mother and sister” (72). Even though what he joined was illegal, Gatsby bagan working with Mr. Wolfsheim in the sale of illegal alcohol. It is evident that Gatsby never lost his dream because of the great lengths and risk he took to get his wealth back. He turned to crime in order to gain his wealth. Even though it still appeared that Gatsby had manners of a wealthy person, on the inside he lost those morals when he sacrificed them for a dream that turned sour. On another note, Gatsby’s dream was to be wealthy, which he achieved, however, in reality he no one else acknowledged Gatsby at the

Fitzgerald displays Gatsby as man who came from nothing, with an unrelenting passion to obtain material success, or the 1920’s American Dream. Radical transformation was one of Mr. Gatsby’s most outstanding characteristics, taking his desire to change from the once impoverished man to the point of changing his name. Certainly Gatsby possesses admirable traits, as his will power is once again displayed through the longing for his lost love, Daisy. The misconceptions of the time period are illustrated as Fitzgerald displays that Gatsby’s underlying desire for money is to win over Daisy through impressing her with his wealth. Within Adam Cohen’s piece “Jay Gatsby Is a Man for Our Times”, Cohen discusses the worthiness of Gatsby’s goal: “The callow Daisy, whose voice is ‘full of money,’ may not be a worthy goal. But Gatsby’s longing for her, and his willingness to sell his soul to pursue her, are the purest thing in this sordid tale.” Essentially, Fitzgerald demonstrates that Gatsby, nor his relentless will to succeed, are not the issue. It is the time period, along with the misconceptions of a dream, which corrupt the character. Gatsby’s wealth is obtained through unethical ways, like many others who followed the path of easy money. The corruption of bonds does bring Gatsby the wealth he had always longed for, along with extravagant and lavish parties at his mansion. Consequently, we learn that reaching the goal of obtaining wealth ultimately does not lead to

The novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a riveting tale full of deception and love triangles. The main character, Jay Gatsby, ends up getting the short end of the stick. You would assume that being an extremely rich man would protect Gatsby from the destructive people around him, but it does not. In the end, Tom Buchanan manages to take everything from him, causing this story to not have a happy ending.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby provides the reader with a unique outlook on the life of the newly rich. Gatsby is an enigma and a subject of great curiosity, furthermore, he is content with a lot in life until he strives too hard. His obsession with wealth, his lonely life and his delusion allow the reader to sympathize with him.

People have proven that they will go to great lengths to preserve their precious reputation. After all, a person’s reputation can make or break their own social life as it allows them to make new friends or keep certain people away. Within The Great Gatsby, the greatest theme taken away from the novel is the impact of carrying on your reputation throughout your lifetime. Retaining a specific reputation not only impacts yourself, but also impacts the way people perceive the you. Characters within the novel such as Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy serve as great examples of characters who all partake in activities to withhold their social position at a greater level. This concept is still relevant today as you see not only teenagers, but also adults in the real world attempt to keep their reputation high.

Fitzgerald depicts many of the characters with slightly obscure and fluid identities, particularly during moments where issues of class or hierarchy are being discussed. Gatsby’s web of deceit, and his firm place in the centre of the ‘gossip culture’ allows the reader to see through his facade, as when Nick detects mystery surrounding Gatsby’s stories, we understand the game of imitation and falsity. A large part of society portrayed by Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby is the gossip culture with which everyone engages and seems to trust ; ’Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once… he was a German spy during the war’. The lies spread about Gatsby result in his identity being built from fragments of truth and rumour and as ‘a thrill passed over all of us’ and ‘Mr Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly,’ the characters are clearly keen to engage in the gossip. Fitzgerald makes it clear that Gatsby’s stories are not credible, which then proposes the question; why would a man of such wealth need to be deceitful about his past?

In this, the third and fourth section of the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, we are finally introduced to the rich neighbour of Nick, Mr. Gatsby. From Nick's narration, we are regaled with the impressive mansion of Mr.Gatsby, as well as his luxurious parties and his expensive cars. From Nicks vivid description, Mr,Gatsby’s power and influence are displayed as if it is a piece of artwork at a museum. Along with the social standing demonstrated by the wealth and power Mr. Gatsby possesses, it also displays his beyond-masterful use of smoke and mirrors keep his public image from corruption. In the novel, the misuse of power as well as the ways it is used to distort reality are suitably hinted at during Mr Gatsby’s party, and connects to the real life issues that continue to affect the world today as well.