Mr Gatz Vs Mr Gatsby: The Dual Nature of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Protagonist

'Mr Gatz Vs Mr Gatsby: The Dual Nature of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Protagonist'

You know, when we first meet Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, "The Great Gatsby," it’s hard not to get caught up in all the glitz and glamor. Those lavish parties, his mansion, the mystery surrounding him—it's all pretty dazzling. But here's the kicker: Jay Gatsby isn't even his real name. Nope, he started out as James Gatz, a poor kid from a farming family.

This whole switcheroo from Gatz to Gatsby is really crucial if you wanna get what makes his character tick. I mean, it's kinda wild how different they are. James grew up dirt-poor with barely any chances to make it big. He's like the poster child for how tough it can be for the lower class trying to chase that American Dream. And then there's Jay Gatsby—the guy's loaded and rubbing elbows with society's elite.

The Illusion of Identity

Gatsby's identity change raises some juicy questions about who he really is. Throughout the book, he's painted as this self-made success story living out the American Dream. But if you look closer, his whole life is built on a lie. All that money? It's from shady business deals. The flashy lifestyle? It’s all just a show to win over Daisy Buchanan, his one true love.

This illusion becomes crystal clear at those epic parties he throws. Sure, he acts like the perfect host, but deep down, he’s distant and detached from everyone around him. And what's more telling than throwing a party where you feel like a stranger?

The American Dream and Its Discontents

Now let’s dig into the American Dream thing. Gatz turning into Gatsby screams that old belief that anyone can make it big in America if they just hustle hard enough. But does it hold up? Not really, at least not for Gatsby himself.

Despite swimming in cash and mingling with high society, he's never satisfied or truly happy. It's like chasing after wealth and status just left him feeling empty inside. So maybe this American Dream isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—could it just be one big societal hoax?

Gatsby's case gets us thinking about what success even means in America—is it personal growth and moving up in life or just one big mirage? In the end, our boy Gatsby gets caught up in this web of illusions and chases an impossible dream till it wrecks him.

Conclusion

So when we look at James Gatz versus Jay Gatsby in Fitzgerald's book, we see how layered our protagonist is. This shift from Gatz to Gatsby shows off his two sides and opens up bigger themes about identity and that slippery American Dream.

Chasing after cash and social standing leads to Gatsby's downfall—it lays bare the emptiness at heart of this so-called dream and leaves him pretty disillusioned.

James Gatz morphing into Jay Gatsby serves as a reminder: true happiness ain't something you can buy or gain through others' approval—it comes from within.

Bibliography

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
• Stern, Milton R., ed. Critical Essays on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. G.K. Hall & Co., 1984.
• Tredell, Nicolas (Ed.). F.Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby (Columbia Critical Guides). Columbia University Press, 1999.
• Bruccoli, Matthew J., ed., New Essays on The Great Gatsby (Cambridge University Press), 1985.