Francis Fitzgerald is America’s most famous writer, and one of his legendary works is the novel The Great Gatsby. The main idea of the work is to show the unfairness of the fate of a poor young man who cannot marry the girl he loves. Generally, there are different opinions about whether Gatsby was a fool or a genius. It is indeed a difficult question, but at the same time, he can undoubtedly be called a great man with a hard fate.
One of the main characters and the narrator is Nick Carraway. It is impossible to say anything specific about this figure since, in the novel, he is more of a guide for the reader on the road of Gatsby’s destiny. First, what confirms Jay Gatsby’s greatness is his entrepreneurial spirit and determination. All his life, he loved one person, and everything he did was to win her favor; it is also noted by storyteller Nick Carraway (Fitzgerald 80). Another critical factor is that Jay was brave, which is a trait of strong and successful people. After seeing Daisy and realizing he wanted to live his life with her, he honestly told her husband (Fitzgerald 131). One must have great courage to do such things. It is an indication of respect, both for oneself and others.
The last but also significant thing is recognizing the hero’s greatness is love which is a real challenge in this story. Gatsby understands this, and in addition, he accepts all tests of fate (Fitzgerald 132). A strong man realizes that one must always be prepared to deal with all aspects of life: joy, sorrow, resentment, and love. Without this, it is impossible to succeed, to become truly great.
Jay Gatsby lived a hard life, he was secretive, but he kept hope in his heart that sooner or later he would be happy with Daisy. The hero may have been blinded by his newfound love and done many irrational things, but that does not make him a fool. On the contrary, a great man is first and foremost a strong man who will pursue his goals. Jay Gatsby was precisely that, and although his fate did not end in the best of ways, he did everything he could to make his lifelong dream come true.
Work Cited
Fitzgerald, Francis Scott. The Great Gatsby (1925). Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1953.