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How Does the Narrator Describe Gatsby?

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In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby appears as a man with a newly found fortune. He is extravagant, like his parties, but he is also incredibly lonely. Many people around refer to him as a gorgeous person. In fact, he is immature and has no knowledge of the world he became a part of.

Detailed answer:

The narrator presents everything through his perception. Nick describes Gatsby as the only exception to the ‘rich disorder.’ Jay Gatsby spends every dollar he acquired as if it was the last day on Earth. It’s unlikely he even realizes how much he owns, as opposed to the others from the upper class. Moreover, the narrator sees that Gatsby inherited certain behavior traits from other rich people. It appears to be quite the opposite of his real character.

Nick portrays Gatsby as a paradox, which the reader can observe in the descriptions. He also sees Gatsby as a representative of the indulgent, luxurious lifestyle. And yet he is not ‘natural’ at it; this life does not suit him. Jay Gatsby is a victim; he is a loner in the world of extravagance and lavish parties. He is in love, yet he cannot be with his one and only.

Gatsby appears to be a dreamer, and, therefore, he is a slave to his version of the American Dream. His richness destroys his innocent mind because his hopefulness becomes his biggest flaw. And soon enough, it transforms into selfishness and single-mindedness. His wealthy life becomes just a surface decoration, which hides a miserable man behind. Instead of embracing his real self, he tries to meet someone else’s expectations.

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IvyPanda. (2024, August 21). How Does the Narrator Describe Gatsby? https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-the-narrator-describe-gatsby/

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IvyPanda. (2024) 'How Does the Narrator Describe Gatsby'. 21 August.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "How Does the Narrator Describe Gatsby?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-the-narrator-describe-gatsby/.

1. IvyPanda. "How Does the Narrator Describe Gatsby?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-the-narrator-describe-gatsby/.


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IvyPanda. "How Does the Narrator Describe Gatsby?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-the-narrator-describe-gatsby/.