Vices in The Great Gatsby

'Vices in The Great Gatsby'

Jay Gatsby, the mysterious main guy from F. Scott Fitzgerald's book, "The Great Gatsby," is a character who's got lots of bad habits that eventually lead to his downfall. All through the story, you can see how Gatsby's got this thing for money, his crazy chase after Daisy Buchanan, and his big fancy parties. At first, these don't seem so bad, but they end up being pretty bad for his feelings and how he deals with other people. By checking out Gatsby's bad habits, we get to see more about what the book's all about and what happens when you just want too much.

Obsession with Wealth

The biggest problem Gatsby has is how much he's into money. From when he was James Gatz, a poor kid, to becoming the rich Jay Gatsby, his whole life is about getting stuff. You can see it in his huge house, fancy cars, and those wild parties he throws. He doesn't just want money for fun; he wants to impress Daisy Buchanan.

Gatsby’s constant chase after wealth gets pointed out by Nick Carraway, the guy telling the story. Nick says Gatsby has an "extraordinary gift for hope" (Fitzgerald, 1925). Gatsby thinks that if he gets rich enough, Daisy will love him back. So he spends like crazy trying to go back in time and show he's good enough for her love. But being so focused on money makes him miss out on real connections with people and ends up making him lonely.

Moreover, this obsession with wealth shows what society was like during the Roaring Twenties. The book talks about how everyone wanted too much stuff and how chasing money messed up individuals and society as a whole. What Gatsby does reflects the bigger theme of the American Dream: happiness through material success. However, Fitzgerald suggests that running after wealth is empty and meaningless.

Pursuit of Daisy Buchanan

Gatsby’s thing for money ties right into chasing Daisy Buchanan, his old flame. To him, Daisy means not only riches but also getting back something lost from the past. He thinks that if she loves him again, he'll have their old happiness back.

The catch? He's stuck on this perfect picture of her rather than who she really is now. He puts her on a pedestal like she's flawless which blinds him to her actual imperfections.

This pursuit involves a lot of lying too. Gatsby cooks up some big stories just to win her over—even inventing a new identity! This shows off another vice—being dishonest—and how far he'll go against integrity just for what he wants.

The fallout from chasing Daisy is sad though: despite everything he tries doing right by her doesn’t pan out because ultimately she betrays him showing once again she's not who she used be long ago at all leading down path toward disaster where holding onto past brings nothing except destruction when clinging onto unattainable ideals keep pushing boundaries until it finally breaks everything apart completely...

Indulgence in Lavish Parties

Another one of Gatsby’s vices? Those wild extravagant parties! His mansion fills up with folks from everywhere ready for good times full of glitz glamour—all aimed showing off just how loaded man truly was...

Beneath surface lies emptiness though—people come only wanting share luxury lifestyle offered without forming genuine connections or meaningful conversations among themselves there either...

Parties don’t fix anything—they only distract momentarily reminding us deeper loneliness lying within still remains lurking underneath...This indulgence further isolates poor guy unable forge real relationships while critiquing excessive materialism & hedonism defining Jazz Age culture itself!

Conclusion

In conclusion then--Gatsby had several vices—including obsession over wealth or chase after Daisy along hosting lavish shindigs—all leading towards inevitable tragic ending...His flaws aren't mere character issues but reflect societal values prevalent then too as author critiques rampant consumerism alongside shallow pleasures marking roaring twenties era…Observing them lets us see possible consequences unchecked desires bring forth eventually leaving behind hollow existence missing genuine happiness altogether...

The Great Gatsby remains timeless examination human nature emphasizing pitfalls waiting lurking round corner should anyone become trapped pursuing superficial dreams instead authentic connections among loved ones—encouraging strive more fulfilling lives beyond material possessions focusing instead true joy companionship brings instead!!!

Bibliography

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott (1925). The Great Gatsby. Scribner.
• SparkNotes Editors (2020). "SparkNotes on The Great Gatsby". SparkNotes LLC.
• Tredell Nicolas (2007). "The Great Gatsby: A Reader's Guide". Palgrave Macmillan UK.
• Taylor Colleen B (1999). "Beyond Boundaries: Critical Essays On Fitzgerald". University Press America Inc..
• Borocz Istvan (2018) ‘Roaring Twenties or Golden Twenties?’ History Today Volume 68 Issue September Page Numbers’ 13-19