complex character essay

• introduction

  the great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald features a complex character for whom we have sympathy. Jay Gatsby is presented to the reader as a complex protagonist. initially we are intrigued by him as he is presented as a mysterious and elusive character. we learn of his love for Daisy Buchanan whom is married to Tom Buchanan and Gatsby dream is to win daisy back. his backstory makes the reader admire his ambition, however, we also learn of his character flaws and illegal trade.
• introduction

  in a key incident, The Plaza Hotel chapter, Gatsby once again loses our respect. the fallout from this key incident results in Gatsby tragic demise. Fitzgerald successfully depicts a complex character whose dream is tragically out of his reach.
• peel 1

  Gatsby is presented as an elusive and mysterious character from the outset of the novel. Gatsby has become so famous around New York as he threw elaborate parties every weekend at his mansion and yet nobody knows what he is up to. To illustrate "sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all" This quote demonstrates that he appears surrounded by spectacular luxury, and courted by powerful men which suggests his mysteriousness because no one knows where he gets all his money from.
• peel 1

  many people believe that he was "a German spy" and "an oxford man". this quote has made it cleared that Gatsby is a complex and mysterious character. when we first see that Gatsby is standing alone, stretched out his arms towards the dark water and nothing except a single green light.
• peel 1

  at this point we are unaware of what the green light symbolise and we are viewing Gatsby through Nick's narrative. we later learn that the green light symbolises the American dream and Gatsby singular of winning back Daisy. therefore Gatsby us presented as a complex and intriguing character from the beginning of novel.
• peel 2

  Gatsby's dream of winning back Daisy has a symbolism of the green light. for example "if it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay" and "you always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock". this quote illustrate the first time both Daisy and Gatsby met as he shows her around his mansion, which suggests that Gatsby is captivated by Daisy as he always looking at her house from across the bay.
• peel 2

  furthermore Gatsby mention that "there are things between me and Daisy that you'll never know, things that neither of us can ever forget". the word "ever" has connotations of forever and always remember. this suggests that Gatsby does not care that she is married to Tom and wants to win her back because he believe that she stills loves him and does not want to let Daisy go, and for this reason Gatsby believed that becoming wealthy and trying to become 'old money' would lead him to his American dream of getting Daisy's love.
• peel 2

  "he took a pile of shirts and began throwing them" this suggests that he is trying to impress Daisy by showing off his wealth. through this Gatsby is shown to be overly obsessed with Daisy and is doing everything he can to win her back
• peel 3

  the character Gatsby has loss of respect from reader as he pushes Daisy too far. for example at the plaza hotel Gatsby said "your wife doesn't love you she's never loved you she loves me". the word "never" has connotations of not at all and at no time . this suggests that Gatsby is being selfish and does not care about how Daisy is feeling about the situation.
• peel 3

  furthermore Gatsby mentioned that "it was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me!" the use of exclamation mark shows that he is shouting out of frustration and was being assertive, which scared Daisy away because she had never seen this side of his personality before. therefore the readers had lost their respect for Gatsby as he does not care about anyone's feeling apart from his own.
• peel 4

  at the ending of the novel Gatsby was driving back home from the plaza hotel with Daisy and Daisy accidentally hit myrtle with the car and drove away but everyone thought it was Gatsby who was driving because he was with Daisy. for example "he ran over myrtle like you'd run over a dog". the use of similes shows that myrtle is being compared to 'a dog' which suggests that both Daisy and Gatsby didn't care that they ran a person over with a car and did not feel guilty about the situation.
• peel 4

  furthermore Gatsby took the blame for Daisy as he said "of course i'll say i was" this quote suggests that Gatsby does not hesitate to take the blame for Daisy as he was expecting her to love him back but however Wilson whom is myrtle's husband wants to get revenge and therefore killed Gatsby. at the funeral both Tom and Daisy did not come as Nick states that "she and Tom had gone away early that afternoon and taken baggage with them" this illustrate the selfishness of Tom and Daisy for leaving Gatsby behind and make other people clean up their mess.
• peel 4

  the ending emphasises the hedonism and superficiality of the other characters in the story, particularly Daisy and Tom, who escape all sense of consequences.
• conclusion

  in conclusion The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald is a novel that effectively deals with the themes of the American dream and the reality versus illusion. Fitzgerald effectively explores the complexity of the character Gatsby through the use of characterisation, similes, imagery, and word choice. this creates mixed feelings of sympathy and inevitable emptiness for Gatsby as he has been living alone and trying to fit in with the social class.
• conclusion

  Gatsby's dream is to win back Daisy and therefore believes that being wealthy will make her love him but however he wasn't able to achieve his dream. Fitzgerald use of word choice particular demonstrates that American society and the American Dream are very different from each other as the American society demonstrate reality and the American dream illustrate fantasy.