Who Is The Protagonist In The Great Gatsby

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In literature, novels often have a main protagonist, and assisting side characters. These characters are created to support the main character, and allow the reader to have a deeper understanding of the protagonist’s role in the novel. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, secondary characters are utilized to help build up the main protagonist, Jay Gatsby. Through the contrasting behaviors of characters Tom and Daisy, Gatsby’s integrity is accentuated. Tom and Daisy’s superficiality and materialism make Gatsby’s personality look more reputable. Meanwhile, Meyer Wolfsheim's character aids to shape Gatsby as a mysterious man who is exploited for his status. As Wolfsheim is a man of secrets himself, Gatsby’s friendship with him would make …show more content…

Thus, through Meyer Wolfsheim’s dubious actions and dismissal of Gatsby’s death, Gatsby is formed as a mysterious character who was taken advantage of by the wealthy. Overall, Fitzgerald employs the superficial behaviors of the Buchanans to build up Gatsby’s high morals, while Meyer Wolfsheim’s presence raises doubts about his morality, ultimately portraying Gatsby as a mysterious and mistreated character. With limited knowledge on Gatsby’s past, Gatsby’s character is thereby unknown, and solely based on other characters’ interpretations. Through the contrasting behaviors of Tom and Daisy, Gatsby’s integrity and humility are underscored, emphasizing his noble nature against the Bunchanan’s self-centered ideologies. With the use of Meyer Wolfsheim, his enigmatic character brings depth to Gatsby’s mysterious persona, while also displaying how he was exploited for his wealth and status. In essence, the secondary characters in Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby are used to build up Gatsby and show the dedication, perseverance, and struggles needed to succeed in the American

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