The answer to this question no! N-O with a capital N!
I just got done reading the Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald and I have to say that that was one of the best books that I have ever ready. I has all of the elements that a good story should have which are, comedy, tragedya nd the element of surprise. It just further advocates that idea that readers and people in our world today feed off drama, controversy and other people's problems. I have discussed this book with alot of me peers and they have said to me that despite the fact that it was written back back back in the day and some of the grammar is bit unfamiliar that book was "the bomb," meaning good.
Having said that I want to go and say the reason that they book is the bomb is because of all of the contoversy that is surrounding the main character. Gatsby was mysterious, but yet in still GREAT. Nobody knew the truth about him but yet he was so GREAT. His whole life was hear say but still he was GREAT. Now my only question is why was the GREAT Gatsby GREAT!
My opinion is he wasnt. I say this for many reasons and anyone who has read this story should recognize. First of all I beleive that Gatsby wasnt great beyond normal day standards. He did things that norml people could do and be considered great. But he was also very dishonest in ways. First, how did he make it to the top? He was a bootlegger. There was nothing in the story that actually came out and said that but there was a lot of evidence that suggest it and so that is what I am sticking with. So he made it to the top under the table pretty much. Second he had family (which was never heard of) and he never made any reference to his living father who was one of the feew who came to his funeral in the end of the story. Third, it has became apparent to me that the only thing that made him interesting to the eye of the public was feasible anymore either because in the end nobody really came to his funeral. He was dishonest throughout the whole story, trying make Daisy cheat on her husband, using Nick to get what he wants and being apart of his whole bootlegging thing. Its horrible. I
In the eyes of me and in the eyes of majority of society Great doesnt say that you lie, or cheat. You do the right thing. I can agree that nobody is perfect but it does well to strive higher than a liar (Hey that rhymes)!
Anyway, like I said I know that many can agree Gatsby isnt as GREAT as the title that described him.
so I was researching for my essay and came across this, I felt the necessity to add some points:
Fitzgerald sets out to draw the reader into the book with Nicks set opinions and feelings towards Gatsby’s character, conveying to the reader the notion that Gatsby is great. The title works with this.
Even though Nick tells us at the beginning of the novel that Gatsby “…represented everything for which I have unaffected scorn.” (pg8) He still considers Gatsby as a great figure, and in his character he sees and admires both of Gatsby’s “…extraordinary gift for hope…” and “…romantic readiness.” (Pg8)
All the way through the novel we are given multiple views of Gatsby’s personality, either through Nick, rumors, or the people Nick regularly corresponds with. All of these are deemed important factors to be able to understand Gatsby’s true character, as it is never truly revealed. Therefore the reader is made to create their own opinions of Gatsby with the information that they’ve been given.
Gatsby is a great deceiver.
The title of the book relates to the idea of Gatsby being a great showman. ‘The Great Gatsby’ and how it could link with ‘The Great Houdini’
-Reference to Gatsby being “…a regular Belasco.” (Pg 47) Belasco brought in realism to theatres, which was about using real items for their plays instead of fake, links to how Gatsby uses real material possessions to help up with his charade.
-Manages to keep everyone deceived, even after his death.
Gatsby is a Great Dreamer
-How he managed to create up his new persona and make it into a reality.
-Dreaming for Daisy, how he never gives up. This is considered as a main factor of his new persona-creating someone that Daisy would love.
I think you're wrong and miss the concept of morality and its subjectivity. Take into consideration the time period. It was very much a materialistic period, I guess just like today is. People were inclined to make money and bootlegging offered an opportunity despite it being against the law. The profit derived from bootlegging indicates the demand and lack of morals of the times. Gatsby is absolved of this so called immorality of lying and cheating because it is part of the game of life and how people were very platonic. Gatsby IS great because he maintains his true dream even though he is naive that he could reignite a time that has passed. His boyish ideal lets him be innocent and great because despite the corruptive nature of life in the east he dies believing in his dream even if it was never meant to be. Being killed, by Wilson of all people lets him be put out of his misery, leaving him to be a great martyr for the individual dream anyone can have as long as the time hasn't passed.
Jay Gatsby was great because he could dream, despite his poor beginnings. Being great is not the same thing as being perfect.
I'm affraid i don't agree with the points your makeing Carla i believe Gatsby to be the greatest character, along with Nick, within the novel.
Firstly Gatsby is called Great due to being romantic, rich, cultured, honest, cosmic, his parties as well as hard working. Though most of these are altered by the corruption behind them, for example having an affair, stealing and bootlegging none the less he is still great, due to the definition of great consisting of many points one being, Larger than others of a similar kind, another being, A very remarkable person or thing. These are only 2 of the 7 definitions given to the word, but both can be put into context within the novel. For example being larger than others of a similar kind can refer to his house, wealth, parties all of which are extravegant large and over the top shown within quotations, etc... but i won't bore u with that. Then putting, A very remarkable person or thing into context, you could say this again through his house being large and quite remarkable, but also through his loyalty and love towards Daisy. Therefore proving that even though he had been and was in some ways corrupted this was only due to the belief in his completly incorruptible dream, loving daisy until the day he died and always staying loyal to her, therefore makeing Gatsby great in every way possible to the reader.
Other minor points makeing him great is his lack of interest in Gossip, a central focus within the novel, partying, he only holds them in the hope Daisy will turn up, but also to do with the fact that he was framed for something he never did all because the woman he loved was to coward to follow her dream, stand up to her manipulative completly corrupt husband or say anything.
And just to point out to jay man, though i like the reference and point about life being an illusion, Gatsby was infact new money due to creating his money through bootlegging and fake bonds which is why he lives in west egg.
But otherwise i enjoyed reading everyones views.
I deffinately believe this to be the greatest American novel i've ever read!
thanks Fran x
Got that mouth!
Your points were very interesting. Tomorrow I will be involved in a debate in my AP english class, discussing whether Gatsby was really great or not, and I am negative. Thanks for your help!
Ps: Calanney, it's irony.
While it's true that any work you post online with your name attached to it is going to reflect on your ability as an author, this blog space isn't a shrine for finely polished, fully completed critical works.
Think of it more like a sketchpad, rather than a gallery. Some people do create magnificient works of lasting beauty in their sketchpads, but the quick-and-dirty scribblings also have value.
With all the writing I do online, I publish plenty of typos. When readers e-mail me privately to point out mistakes, I'm grateful. But even a public correction is a sign that somebody's reading.
By the way, Violet, "proofread" is one word, and that should be "a plethora," not just "plethora."
Not to be rude, but the next time you decided to post an essay online you may want to proof read, sister! You have plethora of typos, and it is just a poorly written paper. However, I do agree with many of your viewpoints. The Great Gatsby was not at all "great," but he was definitely very fascinating.
The Great in Great Gatsby refers to the person that James Gatz invented in order to leave his past as a poor farmboy behind. Jay Gatsby has all the markings of a great man -- he is rich, from old money, well-known throughout all of New York, etc. It is also a reference to the magicians the "Great Houdini," and the the "Great Blackstone," suggesting that Gatsby's whole life is no more than an illusion.
The Great Gatsby was great you bum
why do u think they named the book that!?!?!
YES, I AGREE TOTOTALLY. YOU don't know sister! HA. Seriously, though I didn't really think about how he didn't talk of his living father until you mentioned it. Besides his dishonesty, it is sad to hear that he didn't talk of his father. When you have a parent or sibling, keeping the family ties is just natural and "right." (if I may say so) All in all, well said, I AGREE!