Identity In The Great Gatsby

Jay Gatsby is a man who lives a life of lies and confusion. He is the novel’s title character.

Born into a farmer’s family in North Dakota, Jay hated his roots. Gatsby struggled with his

identity as a young boy. It was for this reason that his identity began to change and form

something that he was not. The character of Jay Gatsby evolved into an identity, allowing

money, love, passion and extravagance to be his guide. This persona was not who Gatsby was,

but it represented whom he wanted to be. He created an image of a glamourous life, never giving

straight answers about his past. “So he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year

old boy would be likely to invent” (104).

Dreams have always been an important

Why of course you

can!” (116). He continued saying, “I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before” (117).

Gatsby loved what Daisy represented, old money.

Jay Gatsby’s dream became corrupted by money and dishonesty. Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and social standing defined his greatness. Ironically, it was this perceived importance which became his downfall. He gained money and social riches, and the obsession with Daisy continued. Gatsby presents an image of a classy, fun-loving and generous man, but in reality, he is lonely, vulnerable and unhappy. He even felt it necessary to make up his entire identity. Gatsby’s dream of life with Daisy is beyond his reach and unattainable. The idea that money can lead one from rags to riches is part of Gatsby’s dream, but this

dream becomes corrupted, and life becomes just about getting rich and getting Daisy.

Throughout this novel Gatsby has created his identity, even changing his name from Gatz to

Gatsby to represent the reinvention of himself. Gatsby reinvents himself to conform to his ideas

of how he should live and how people should perceive him. His entire adult life rested on