Illusion in The Great Gatsby

James Baldwin looked upon reality and illusion through the eyes of

a great author. He saw that all authors live in reality, while everyone

else lives in a sense of illusion, or not knowing the whole truth. He

shows us that the author must question everything, breaking down the

illusions that are set up by people and by our society. Baldwin shows that

normal people don't question everything, and therefore are fooled by

illusions may times. In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald suggests many things

about illusion and reality. I think that the strongest thing Fitzgerald

suggests is that you create your own illusion, and with this illusion, you

shape the person that you are. All of the rich people in this book have

some sort of illusion surrounding their persona, but Gatsby has the

greatest of all illusions surrounding him.

Gatsby is presented as living the charmed life, with plenty of

friends, no problems, and an honest man. In the end his whole illusion

unravels and we find that he has plenty of problems, is very crooked and

dishonest, and has no true friends. He longs for companionship with Daisy,

and still can never have that. Gatsby's illusion surrounding him is

totally shattered in this book, partly through the actions of Tom who feels

that he must discredit his name. Tom, however discredits name to draw

Daisy away from him when he finds that Gatsby has become interested in

Daisy. When Tom confronts Gatsby, and begins to crumble his illusion,

Gatsby is as cool and confident as he always is.

Tom's voice, incredulous and insulting: I told you I went there

[Oxford]," said Gatsby.

"I heard you, but I would like to know when."

"It was in nineteen-nineteen. I only stayed for five months."

Tom glanced around to see if we mirrored his unbelief. (136)

This passage shows that even Gatsby has bought into the illusion that he

has created for himself. It is as if he has thought out the answer for

every question about his past, so that he can come off as being

distinguished and honest.

It would be hard to read The Great Gatsby without analyzing if the

narrator, Nick Carroway falls into the illusion of Gatsby.