Gatsby’s Illusion Outlooks on life are often not always what they seem. Throughout life, illusions fool people into focusing on fantasies instead of focusing on reality. Love also sometimes plays a key role in those illusions. Jay Gatsby, a young man who rises from poverty to become famously wealthy, is one main character in The Great Gatsby that focuses on the idea of fantasy rather than reality. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates that Gatsby's death, like his life, is the product of an illusion consisting of unfulfilled fantasies and underlying truths. Jay Gatsby focuses his life primarily on the hopes of renewing his lost relationship with Daisy Buchanan creating, through fantasies, illusions, that,
…show more content…
Through his life, Gatsby never let others know the full truth about him. Instead, he allows people to assume about his life and how he acquires his high standard of living. Some claim "they thought he killed a man once." (32). Others say he "inherited money." (76). In reality, Gatsby acquires his wealth from past bootlegging alcohol during Prohibition. Gatsby does not only lie about his source of wealth, but also his name, which so happens to be James Gatz. James Gatz hides himself from his fictional illusion of his identity by creating Jay Gatsby. Despite all of his efforts, Gatsby traps himself within his past, as his death becomes an illusion because of the way it happens. Daisy is the driver in a hit and run accident, killing Myrtle Wilson. To cover up for Daisy, Tom lies to her husband, George Wilson, expressing that Gatsby "ran over Myrtle like you'd run over a dog and never even stopped his car." (141). This ignites George to kill Gatsby by shooting, and ultimately George shoots himself afterwards. George creates the illusion that Gatsby’s murder is caused by the thought of him driving the car that kills Myrtle. On Gatsby's last day, he loses Daisy, the love of his life, for the second time, and everyone finds out about his lies, including his wealth and his
Through his life, Gatsby never let others know the full truth about him. Instead, he allows people to assume about his life and how he acquires his high standard of living. Some claim "they thought he killed a man once." (32). Others say he "inherited money." (76). In reality, Gatsby acquires his wealth from past bootlegging alcohol during Prohibition. Gatsby does not only lie about his source of wealth, but also his name, which so happens to be James Gatz. James Gatz hides himself from his fictional illusion of his identity by creating Jay Gatsby. Despite all of his efforts, Gatsby traps himself within his past, as his death becomes an illusion because of the way it happens. Daisy is the driver in a hit and run accident, killing Myrtle Wilson. To cover up for Daisy, Tom lies to her husband, George Wilson, expressing that Gatsby "ran over Myrtle like you'd run over a dog and never even stopped his car." (141). This ignites George to kill Gatsby by shooting, and ultimately George shoots himself afterwards. George creates the illusion that Gatsby’s murder is caused by the thought of him driving the car that kills Myrtle. On Gatsby's last day, he loses Daisy, the love of his life, for the second time, and everyone finds out about his lies, including his wealth and his