Who Is Responsible For Jay Gatsby's Downfall

Much like some individuals in today's society, Jay Gatsby bases his life off the mindset that money will ultimately bring love, admiration and prosperity to his life. He hopes that his wealth will attract Ms. Daisy Buchanan, as he falls in love with her aura of luxury. Our narrator of the story, Nick, along with many others admire Gatsby's lavish parties, abode, and lifestyle all together. Jay also expects his posh material lifestyle to portray himself as put together and successful in all aspects of his life.

Jay Gatsby becomes overwhelmed with a relentless desire for wealth, money, and pleasure that ultimately causes his collapse. He has one goal in life, to lure Daisy into his arms with his tremendous home in West Egg and his abundant

amount of money. While obsessing over the certain attraction that links Daisy with Gatsby, muttering the words, "Her voice is full of money" (120), Gatsby accentuates his love for money and his goal to entice Daisy with it. He continues to use materialism as prime bait to pull Daisy into his life. When Nick Carraway reveals to the audience that, "He hadn't once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes" (91). Nick stresses Gatsby's burning desire to change any part of his household that didn’t meet Daisy’s expectations or please her. He also stresses the fact that Jay Gatsby firmly believes material objects will always carve pathways toward love. He turns his feelings into obsessions and soon thereafter, possessions- the shirts,the shoes, the house, the cars,- but unfortunately, the means by which Gatsby expresses his feelings for Daisy - even though those feelings are sincere - is by showing off his possessions. As Gatsby struggles to charm Daisy with the world of material overflow, Gatsby's hopes and aspirations slowly dwindle because the same materialistic interests and dreams that dominate Gatsby do not have ascendency over Daisy.
With extravagant parties thrown every week at the breathtaking mansion in West Egg , Jay Gatsby, demonstrates his pursuit for a bougie lifestyle and his need to please others before himself.

Worrying about the satisfaction of his guests, Gatsby forgets about the importance of his own satisfaction. During the duration of most of these exorbitant parties, Gatsby sit alone, away from his guests, unhappy without hearing the sound of his beloved Daisy’s voice. Constantly yearning to please others, Gatsby doesn’t think of himself first. When Lucille declares to Jordan with enthusiasm, "I like to come. I never care what I do, so I always have a good time. When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address - inside of a week I got a package from Croirier's with a new evening gown in it " (43), Lucille calls attention to his ulterior motives to impress others with his generous objects of materialism. With his thoughtful entertainment, Gatsby obtains a hold in many people's memories, and yearns respect and admiration from all those dwelling throughout the ritzy Long Island. Even when Nick Carraway enlightens the audience of Gatsby's immense appeal with the words, "Rather ashamed that on my first appearance I had stayed so late, I joined the last of Gatsby's guests, who were clustered around him. I wanted to explain that I'd hunted for him early in the evening...." (52). Caraway stresses the Guests fascination with the sought after Jay Gatsby. As a

crowd of guests surrounds Gatsby, the reader tends to wonder whether Gatsby actually can accomplish his dream of happiness when he, himself, is not truly happy .If a man such as Gatsby is surrounded by his own flashy world of materialism, yet is not linked with the woman of his dreams, can a man really live contently in a mansion all alone, endlessly awing others but not himself?
Jay Gatsby's world of materialism slowly causes the American Dream to disintegrate as he constantly flaunts his plethora of wealth and material belongings.

When Gatsby eagerly questions his friends in Long Island, inquiring with confidence, "My house looks well, doesn't it? See how the whole front of it catches the light" (89). Jay Gatsby displays the tragic aspirations of a man who worships status and superiority over building friendships and equality. His obsessive desire for money and pleasure surpasses more noble incentives. His vain values cause the american dream to decay in Gatsby’s world of materialistic principles. For most people of the early twentieth century, the American dream consisted of owning a simple house, a working car, and household appliances in order to maintain a peaceful and prosperous life; for Gatsby, however, the American dream consists of owning a massive mansion, a luxurious car, and material objects that are suitable only for the mega rich. When Nick Carraway announces his own materialistic views, noting that, "I was glad that the sight of Gatsby's splendid car was included in their somber holiday

(69)