The Importance Of Narcissism In The Great Gatsby

Register to read the introduction… Mitchell explains that “In Rothstein’s words, ‘People with narcissistic personality disorders feel entitled to have what they want just because they want it’ (63).” Gatsby can have no true emotional contact with Daisy, Mitchell explains. As any narcissist would, Gatsby compensates for this by “making exploitive demands upon Daisy and upon the world in general (63).” For example, Gatsby demands that Daisy deny ever loving Tom. It is revealed that, even early in his life, his “self-absorption” allowed him to exploit women and take them for granted (Fitzgerald, 104). Mitchell elucidates that, like other narcissists, Gatsby’s exploitiveness is caused by “overwhelming self-absorption (63).” From Mitchell’s point of view, the narcissist’s sense of entitlement is a major force in Gatsby’s character. Because he feels entitled to anything and everything, Gatsby is grandiose and exploitive. His grandiose …show more content…
Mitchell’s argument is both convincing and intriguing. He supports it with evidence from both within the novel and without, utilizing important scenes and clinical analyses of narcissists. Not only is it believable, it explains Gatsby’s behavior throughout the entire novel. Mitchell has succeeded in his attempt to prove Jay Gatsby to be a pathological narcissist. Everything that Gatsby appreciated was nothing more than a mirror, even in the last moments of his life; Gatsby may have been completely unaware of Wilson’s approach, his eyes drawn to and captured by his own evanescent reflection in the shimmering waters of the swimming