The Great Gatsby
How can someone hate a person, and at the same time think that they are great? Nick Carraway, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, demonstrates this abnormal reaction once acquainted with Jay Gatsby. Nick has the uncommon ability of seeing through the immorality that taints Gatsby's greatness. He picks out the hopeful idealist in Gatsby, whom remembers the past, and yearns for the future. In Gatsby's quest for self-fulfillment, he chases a girl, who is essentially the manifestation of his unattainable dream. Nick Carraway thinks that Gatsby is "great" for his not so evident romantic perseverance- his unrelenting desire to chase his dream. By the same token, Jay Gatsby's will to stop at nothing in getting what he wants, evokes his immoral side, which Nick has "an unaffected scorn (6)"for. In the midst of a society where "greatness" is generally marked by prestige and wealth, Nick seems to separate his opinions from those of the rest, and sees something hidden in Jay Gatsby. He discovers a quality for which he defines as "great". Such a quality is Gatsby's unyielding romanticism, and his undaunted urge to pursue a dream. Nick adores the "extraordinary gift for hope (6)" and "romantic readiness (6)
Perhaps it is because our society revolves so strongly around assets, money, and power. For instance, when he kissed her on that one autumn night, he knew that "his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. Nick's recognition of Gatsby's insatiable devotion to regaining what he once had, elevates his opinion of an otherwise corrupt man, to the status of "great". (60)" This is so much greater to me because it is such a comforting notion. It is obvious that by the nature of his hopeful idealism, he is more interested in creating and dwelling in his dream, than actually fulfilling the dream itself. Nick boldly, but precisely describes himself as "one of the few honest people that I have ever known. I admire his persistence and story telling ability, but by no means do I think he is a great person. " that Gatsby possesses and utilizes. In fact, he is so consumed by the past, that he's actually numbed to the present, and lets Daisy slip away once again. For James Gatz is a man who cares about nothing but himself, and his romantic dream to dream. (112)" This is because his dream was made into a reality, a reality that Gatsby didn't want. Unlike Gatsby, he is the epitome of a caring person, lead by the moral standards that society over time idealistically set. Nick is more concerned with the man who reaches off into the night, staring, mesmerized by the hopeful green light. Possibly it is because people simply haven't taken the time to look at the person, but more at what they're worth.
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