Character Portrayals and Society in The Great Gatsby

It is evident that Jay Gatsby is a man with high-level intelligence as is depicted by his ability to gain wealth and status over a short period of time having come from poverty. Gatsby is evidently mentally equipped to handle the challenges associated with social interaction, a fact that has enabled him to gain status and wealth while remaining anonymous. Despite having money, power, and influence, he is not interested in these things, he is hell-bent on achieving his dream, pleasing and getting to know Daisy. He hosts lavish and fabulous parties to please Daisy. He holds on to the hope that Daisy would love him and return to him.

Arguably, every wrong thing that goes on in Jay Gatsby’s life that eventually leads to his death can be traced and linked to his infatuation for Daisy. Despite the fact that Daisy was in a relationship, Gatsby raises the intensity of his pursuits, even involving Jordan to get Nick to convince Daisy to come over for tea. His infatuation for Daisy drives him to make decisions without thinking through the potential consequences on his way of life.

He wants to relive a past that cannot fit in his present or future as is evident when he states, 'can't repeat the past? Why of course you can' (Fitzgerald and Lenz 111). He believes that the reality of the present and the future can be altered by the past. He believes that both youth and beauty can be recaptured with great wealth and power. He is hell-bent on getting back Daisy and winning her love and affection. He longs for the days when they would share their love and affection with no fear or hiding. Despite the fact that she harbored a great affection of Gatsby, her relationship and marriage to Tom would not allow their romance to be. Gatsby is relentless in his pursuit of Daisy and goes to the length of moving across the bay from Daisy. He even takes the fall for Daisy when she runs over Tom’s mistress by accident.

Impact of the Flaw on the Novel

Gatsby’s infatuation of Daisy, holding on to a past that would potentially destroy his future affects the novel in many ways. This flaw affects the manner in which Daisy is portrayed to the audience. While Gatsby claims to be holding a genuine and affectionate love for Daisy, which he believes is a feeling that is mutual, everything that they both do points to the contrary. Gatsby believes that he has to accumulate wealth and power in order to impress Daisy. This is a negative indicator regarding Daisy’s personality. Gatsby is inherently aware of the things that impress Daisy and goes to great lengths to achieve his goal.

However, this is a far cry from the Daisy that Gatsby places on a pedestal. She is not only driven by material wealth, she admittedly believes that she is a complicated woman. She argues, “Sophisticated-God I'm sophisticated” (Fitzgerald and Lenz 18), a statement that is a far cry from reality. Her actions and the material things that please her depict her as a superficial woman. The fact that she holds great affection for Gatsby, her apparent true love, but she cannot get herself to leave her husband may portray her as a virtuous woman. However, her conduct around and with Gatsby depicts the contrary. As such, Gatsby’s infatuation and obsession with Daisy significantly affect how Daisy is portrayed in the novel. While Gatsby may describe her as an epitome of affection and romance, she is portrayed as very different and a shadow of such an image. Additionally, this fatal flaw affects the setting of the novel. The majority of the time, Gatsby is seen to be holding lavish parties, influencing the mood of the novel.

Fitzgerald’s Opinion about Society

Through Gatsby’s fatal flaw, Fitzgerald’s opinion about society can be deduced. Even though Gatsby has a dream, this dream does not fit into his present or his future. Despite this fact, this dream does not fit his present or future, he is hell-bent on realizing this dream. Similarly, society depicts a similar trend in its behavior. Society pursues dreams that do not fit with a successful, fruitful, peaceful, and better present or future. A salient example is the 2007/2008 Global Recession. This recession was driven by the sheer desire and greed of people to make money through the real estate industry and market. Despite the fact that many people could not own homes, they took on subprime loans to facilitate their homeownership. Human beings are inherently driven to realize pursue their dreams with little regards to the impact it would have on their present or future. 

Works Cited:

1. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.