Introduction
The Great Gatsby is a narrative about the difficulties of regaining the past and the challenges associated with shaping the future. Jay Gatsby, the novel’s protagonist, is portrayed as a mysterious and affluent individual. Although Gatsby’s history and origins are shrouded in mystery at the beginning, the author’s introduction makes it clear that Gatsby will be the central focus of the story. Each of the characters evolves and reveals their true nature as the story matures. Resilience and its undeniable connection to the American Dream play a key role in exposing the characters’ true nature in The Great Gatsby.
Character Analysis
Main Characters
The first third of the novel reveals the origins of some of The Great Gatsby’s main characters. Fitzgerald initially portrays Gatsby as the distant, mysterious host of the unbelievably extravagant parties hosted at his estate every week. He seems to be surrounded by extravagant opulence, courted by strong men and stunning ladies (Fitzgerald 7). Before he is introduced to the reader, he is the topic of a frenzy of rumors across New York and is portrayed as a famous individual with extraordinary wealth. Nick Carraway is a calm, introspective Midwesterner who has found himself adrift in the tumultuous East.
Nick is a young Minnesotan who moves to New York to study the bond business. He chooses to live in Long Island’s West Egg area, where he becomes Gatsby’s immediate neighbor. Finally, Daisy Buchanan is a lovely young lady from Louisville, Kentucky. She is Nick Carraway’s cousin and Gatsby’s object of affection. Daisy is depicted as a popular youthful debutante in Louisville, especially among military soldiers stationed relatively close to her home.
Character Changes
There are remarkable changes that occur to the main characters in the middle of The Great Gatsby. For instance, the audience learns about Jay Gatsby’s origins and criminal dealings in chapters 6 and 7, respectively. The reader learns that he ascended from a poor rural upbringing in North Dakota to become immensely wealthy (Fitzgerald 75). He attained this lofty ambition, however, by engaging in organized criminal activity, including the distribution of illicit alcohol and the selling of ill-gotten assets.
Gatsby’s ambitious and cutthroat nature is contextualized in the middle of the novel. Nick changes as he becomes drawn to New York’s energetic, fun-filled lifestyle. However, he views such a way of living as abominable and harmful. Nick’s romantic connection with Jordan Baker symbolizes this inner turmoil throughout the novel. He is drawn to her vivacity and intellect, yet repulsed by her deceit and lack of care for others (Fitzgerald 46).
Daisy changes in the middle of the novel when she fails to meet Gatsby’s expectations. While she is stunning and charming, it is clear that she is also erratic, superficial, and cynical. Nick describes her as a reckless individual who breaks things and then hides behind her wealth.
Character Revelations in the Third Part
As the novel nears its conclusion, the author deconstructs the illusion that is The Great Gatsby. Gatsby is revealed to be an innocent, optimistic young man who pours his heart into his aspirations. He imbues Daisy with a utopian perfection that she can never achieve in reality. Gatsby pursues her with an insatiable enthusiasm that closes his eyes to her limits. His fantasy of her collapses, showing the corruption caused by riches and the worthlessness of the objective.
Nick learns that the East Coast’s fast-paced festivities conceal a dreadful moral vacuum, symbolized by the Valley of Ashes (Fitzgerald 20). He travels back to Minnesota seeking a tranquil existence defined by more conventional moral ideals, which serves as a revelation of his newfound maturity. Daisy demonstrates her true character when she chooses Tom over Gatsby, then lets the latter take the blame for Myrtle Wilson’s death, even though she was driving during the incident.
Resilience
Gatsby’s experience in the Army played a pivotal role in his involvement in organized crime, serving as a means of creating wealth and securing a position of importance in society. His resilience is demonstrated in the aggressiveness with which he pursues his goals, as seen in his pursuit of Daisy. Tom demonstrates resilience in his refusal to abandon his marriage to Daisy, even when it becomes apparent that both have been unfaithful to each other. He maintains that they are in love and nothing will separate them.
Resilience is linked to other themes in the book in several ways. For instance, resilience is inextricably linked to the American Dream, a collection of common ideas that embodies the spirit of America. These shared beliefs include a concept of freedom that guarantees all Americans the opportunity for advancement in society, provided they are willing to work (Fitzgerald 50).
All the novel’s characters are inspired by the promise of riches and success, which prompts numerous demonstrations of resilience. Resilience is also connected to the theme of love and marriage. The novel’s marriages are largely loveless, and each participant remains in the unions due to the conveniences they gain. The individuals remain resilient despite facing challenges that would result in the collapse of such unions.
Fitzgerald believes that resilience inevitably compromises an individual’s moral compass. For instance, in the quest to achieve wealth and prosperity, Gatsby brings death and suffering to others. He is unshaken in his quest, and he fails to seek the immorality in his actions. Similarly, in a bid to maintain the illusion of happiness and social standing, Daisy and Tom stay in a loveless marriage. Tom’s brutishness and obsession with control cause Daisy pain, yet both remain in the union.
Literary Lenses
Fitzgerald applies several literary devices in the novel. For instance, symbols are used extensively in the story. The green light, barely visible from Gatsby’s house, represents his dreams and ambitions. The Valley of Ashes portrays the moral and societal ruin caused by the unrestrained pursuit of money, as the wealthy indulge themselves with little concern for anything other than personal gratification. Fitzgerald also employs motifs such as geography, where specific places serve to illustrate life in the 1920s. It is also worth noting that the story’s weather events match the narrative and emotional tone at any given point.
Comparing Resilience Between Death of a Salesman and The Great Gatsby
While the concept of resilience in The Great Gatsby is mainly similar to that in Death of a Salesman, there is one key difference. Resilience in the former is the result of a desire for wealth and social standing, while in the latter, it is a direct consequence of the quest to rise from poverty and unrestrained suffering. It should be noted, however, that in both stories, the American Dream is a key driver of resilience among the characters.
Conclusion
The main characters in The Great Gatsby evolve and embrace identities that correspond with their hopes and aspirations. Ambition leads to the relentless pursuit of wealth and social status. Marriages are sustained by the illusion of happiness and the conveniences they provide. Fitzgerald’s use of literary devices, such as symbolism and motifs, helps to explicate the conditions under which the story’s characters developed resilience as they pursued the American Dream.
Work Cited
Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. Innovative Eggz LLC, 1925.