External And External Conflicts Of Jay Gatsby

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Conflict is the anxiety caused by two opposite characters or the struggles created between a person and the society (Cuddon, 2013 & Quinn, 2006). According to them, conflicts are divided into internal and external. Internal conflicts happen when the character struggles with himself, his inner side, whereas external happens when the character struggles with another character or the society, the outer world. In this part of my thesis paper, I will be focused on the external and internal conflicts of the main character Jay Gatsby.

5.1 External Conflicts

5.1.1Gatsby vs. Tom
The main conflict or the climax of the novel is the gathering of Nick, Gatsby, Daisy, Tom, and Jordan in hotel Plaza in New York City, and eliciting all the truth that has
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This definition can be supported by facts in the story. When Gatsby had nothing, no wealth nor status, he was unable to marry the girl he loved. After a couple of years, he got both but again not the girl he loved. Now, for Gatsby ,the American Dream does not refer to his social status but to the moments he lived with that woman in the past.
Many authors agree (Bloom, Lee, etc.) that Gatsby was not fighting to have Daisy herself, but rather the moments they had together. Nick tries to convince him that the past cannot be brought back to life again, but Gatsby beliefs that life is determined and managed. (Lee, 1997)

5.2.2 Gatsby vs. the significance of reputation
There has been an inner conflict of Gatsby which is not very obvious or discussed during the novel because it has happened in the past and it is presented as a flashback. As a young man, he did not really understand what reputation meant until he got challenged by his affair with Daisy. Jimmy Gatz had nothing in possession, and his position in the society could not be compared to Daisy’s who comes from a wealthy family. Nevertheless, it took time and suffering to understand that big changes must be made to reach what he wanted. He had Daisy and both shared love to each other, but Gatz was not aware that the moment might be gone and dad, thus he simply enjoyed the time

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