Did Gatsby Deserve His Death?

Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, the enigmatic character of Jay Gatsby captures readers with his lavish parties and mysterious past. But let's get real here – Gatsby's chase for the American Dream leads him straight to a tragic end. So, did he deserve it? This essay dives into that question by checking out different sides of his character and what he does. By looking at how he's obsessed with Daisy Buchanan, how he's mixed up in illegal stuff, and what happens because he's chasing after money like there's no tomorrow, you start seeing why Gatsby's actions might explain why things ended the way they did.

Gatsby's Obsession with Daisy Buchanan

You gotta admit, one of the biggest reasons Gatsby went down was because he just couldn't let go of Daisy Buchanan. Ever since he first saw her, he was set on getting her back – even though she was married to Tom Buchanan. Gatsby was so focused on Daisy that he didn't see their relationship or the mess it could cause.

Even though Daisy was hitched, Gatsby thought he could turn back time and make her leave Tom. That dream pushed him into doing some pretty sketchy stuff, like bootlegging, just so he'd have enough cash to wow her and win her over again. This single-minded chase shows his blurry morals and how far he'd go to get what he wanted.

Plus, being so hung up on Daisy made him ignore all her flaws and put her on a pedestal she really didn't deserve. He saw her as perfect when in reality she was kind of shallow and selfish. Not seeing Daisy for who she truly was is part of what led to his downfall – he got caught up in his own dreams instead of facing facts.

Gatsby's Involvement in Illegal Activities

Apart from being obsessed with Daisy, there's also the whole illegal activities side. Gatsby had all this money and threw these wild parties thanks to bootlegging and other shady deals. He might've tried to look like a legit businessman, but let's face it – his wealth came from breaking the law.

He knew there were big risks involved in what he was doing but kept at it anyway to keep up his rich-and-happy image. Getting into illegal stuff not only showed off his shaky morals but also set him up for disaster.

And don't forget the crowd that comes with that kind of life – folks like Meyer Wolfsheim who brought more trouble into the picture. These bad connections kept putting Gatsby in harm’s way, leading straight to where things ended up for him.

Impact of Gatsby's Materialistic Pursuits

Now let's talk about Gatsby's reckless hunt for money and fancy things – it's a big piece of why things turned out so badly for him. He seriously thought piles of cash would bring happiness and win Daisy’s heart back. But instead, it left him lonely and doomed.

All those extravagant parties and flashy living? Just a show to impress Daisy and high society folks. It didn’t give him real happiness or satisfaction though. Chasing after money became an empty quest since he gave up genuine relationships along the way.

The obsession with riches blinded him from realizing how important real human connections are too – he filled his life with people who only cared about his wallet which cut him off from true friends who mattered most.

Final Thoughts on Gatsby's Journey

So when we ask if Gatsby deserved what happened? Looking at everything – from how crazy he got over Daisy to running illegal schemes then paying dearly due chasing wealth tells us maybe yes; maybe all these choices meant something tragic had come knocking eventually anyway!

This sad ending serves as kinda warning against letting materialism run wild or becoming obsessed beyond reason—it reminds us reaching toward impossible dreams without holding onto morals could lead down paths better left unexplored!

In short—his death showed consequences born from misguided pursuits mixed with ignoring reality—a tale wrapped around bigger questions reminding readers everywhere: is getting lost dreaming worth losing sight living?

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• Tredell, N., & Bloom H., eds.(2007). The Great Gatsby: Bloom’s Modern Critical Interpretations - ISBN: 978-0791092950
• Bruccoli M.J., ed.(1985). New Essays On The Great Gatsby - ISBN: 978-0521319638
• Lathbury R., & Prigozy R., eds.(2002). Dear Scott/Dear Max: The Fitzgerald-Perkins Correspondence - ISBN: 978-0684801534