Perception And Reality In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Perception and reality are two different things, the perception of a person can change over time. Nick Carraway, the narrator, illustrated Jay Gatsby through the rumors, lies and the truth. He is able to change his viewpoint of Gatsby throughout the novel. At first, Nick portrays Gatsby as a big figure with lots of money, seeming to be untrustworthy. Over time, Nick realizes that Gatsby might be the only caring person out of everyone. First, the rumors about Jay Gatsby came from many different people. People that frequently visited Gatsby’s house for the luxurious parties he would throw, circled rumors about how Gatsby was allegedly a German spy, went to Oxford and even killed a man. Jordan Baker once said, “Somebody told me–- Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once.” (Fitzgerald 44) With people in disbelief and shock, Jordan Baker’s reassurance and multiple people nodding and agreeing with her, made it believable to anyone around, spreading the rumor even more. But that was not the end, …show more content…

Gatsby also thought if he portrayed himself as wealthy, he could be good enough for Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby explained, “I am the son of some wealthy people in the Middle East– all dead now. I was brought up in America but educated at Oxford, because all my ancestors were educated there for many years. It is a family tradition.” (Fitzgerald 65) The lies that Gatsby told about his family was his decision to re-invent himself into a better version to make Daisy believe that he was worthy of her. Gatsby adds,”After I lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe–Paris, Venice, Rome–collecting jewels, chiefly rubies, hunting big game, painting a little, things for myself only, and trying to forget something very sad that had happened to me long ago.” (Fitzgerald 66) This explains why Gatsby lies about himself as a part of his goal to fully become Gastby, not Gatz, and completely let the past

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