Who Is Responsible For Jay Gatsby's Downfall

1283 Words3 Pages

Jay Gatsby; Wealth Addict
“There is no surer road to destruction then prosperity without character” (Calvin Coolidge). Gatsby’s whole life was centered around gaining money. It was centered around wealth because he was raised a poor man and was chasing the love of Daisy Buchanan. After the failure of capturing what he longed for, Daisy's love, he was left hopelessly searching for a new meaning of life. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby's obsession with wealth ultimately destroys his life.
To begin with, Gatsby's road to destruction started as soon as he decided what he would do to make his money. Gatsby had business relationships with Meyer Wolfshiem, the man who rigged the 1919 World Series. ‘“Have you known Gatsby for a …show more content…

As a child Gatsby was a poor boy who lived on a farm in North Dakota with his parents. “James Gatz immediately introduced himself as Jay Gatsby, a name he had already invented for himself in an effort to escape his poor upbringing.” (Wyly, Michael J 51) Gatsby as an older man changes his name to escape poverty. He becomes superficial, self-centered, materialistic, and dishonest just like everyone else in New York. He [Gatsby] only cares about his personal gain and builds artificial relationships with others. “A souvenir of Oxford days.” (Fitzgerald 67) Gatsby exaggerates his past to appear more accomplished and fit in better with the wealthy and …show more content…

“Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and status, after all, strikes many as for more conspicuous than those of any other of the novel's characters, and his murder near the end of the story would appear to serve as chilling commentary on the ultimate futility of such pursuits.” (Csicsila, Joseph 145) Gatsby’s materialistic mind rotted his soul and didn't let him enjoy life. His life was centered around impressing Daisy with the fortunes he had acquired since she left him. When she [Daisy] chose Tom over him he was left devastated and empty. Wealth and status turned out to be irrelevant because their whole purpose was to dazzle Daisy. The day after Daisy’s rejection of Gatsby it says he [Gatsby] still believes she will call him and say she still loves him. In the end Gatsby’s whole life was centered around one person who he tried so hard to please but failed

Open Document