Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribners Macmillan, 1988. Print.
Is Gatsby a Christ figure? Why or why not?
Jay Gatsby, to me, is a Christ figure. According to Nick’s first description of Gatsby, “there was something gorgeous about him” and that Gatsby had “heightened sensitivity to the promises of life” (2). Jesus Christ most definitely has these attributes because many people see Christ as beautiful and he is the way to eternal life. Gatsby also had many followers just as Jesus did. Nick Carraway was his most devoted follower. Nick “ found himself on Gatsby’s side, and alone” when Gatsby died (165). He was one of the very few people who attended Gatsby’s funeral. Likewise, when Jesus was crucified, some of his disciples …show more content…
They both want the so called “American Dream”. Gatsby has accomplished this more than Myrtle, but the only thing he needs to fulfill his dream is having Daisy in his life. Myrtle gets a taste of her dream when “she goes to visit her sister in New York”, when she is actually having an affair with Tom (26). Both Gatsby and Myrtle have both been through low social classes. Gatsby had to work his way up to become the rich man that he is now. His dream started when he realized that he did not have enough money to marry Daisy. Gatsby exclaims to Tom that “she only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me” (131). On the other hand, Myrtle switches between lower and upper class depending on when Tom wants to see her. Both Gatsby and Myrtle die trying to reach their dream. Myrtle gets run over by Daisy because she was trying to get to Tom so she could go and be with him to escape her husband. In consequence of this George Wilson goes out to kill Gatsby because he thinks that Gatsby was the one who killed Myrtle. Before Gatsby was killed he was still hoping that Daisy would come back him. Neither Myrtle or Gatsby fulfill their
Is Gatsby a Christ figure? Why or why not?
Jay Gatsby, to me, is a Christ figure. According to Nick’s first description of Gatsby, “there was something gorgeous about him” and that Gatsby had “heightened sensitivity to the promises of life” (2). Jesus Christ most definitely has these attributes because many people see Christ as beautiful and he is the way to eternal life. Gatsby also had many followers just as Jesus did. Nick Carraway was his most devoted follower. Nick “ found himself on Gatsby’s side, and alone” when Gatsby died (165). He was one of the very few people who attended Gatsby’s funeral. Likewise, when Jesus was crucified, some of his disciples …show more content…
They both want the so called “American Dream”. Gatsby has accomplished this more than Myrtle, but the only thing he needs to fulfill his dream is having Daisy in his life. Myrtle gets a taste of her dream when “she goes to visit her sister in New York”, when she is actually having an affair with Tom (26). Both Gatsby and Myrtle have both been through low social classes. Gatsby had to work his way up to become the rich man that he is now. His dream started when he realized that he did not have enough money to marry Daisy. Gatsby exclaims to Tom that “she only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me” (131). On the other hand, Myrtle switches between lower and upper class depending on when Tom wants to see her. Both Gatsby and Myrtle die trying to reach their dream. Myrtle gets run over by Daisy because she was trying to get to Tom so she could go and be with him to escape her husband. In consequence of this George Wilson goes out to kill Gatsby because he thinks that Gatsby was the one who killed Myrtle. Before Gatsby was killed he was still hoping that Daisy would come back him. Neither Myrtle or Gatsby fulfill their