Similarities Between Paul's Case And The Great Gatsby

It is human characteristic to want to improve oneself. People work out to improve physical health, they study to improve their intelligence. People are even motivated by others to become like them. However, is it possible to entirely change oneself based on an image? Foremost, in The Great Gatsby, F. Scott. Fitzgerald creates Jimmy Gatz, who is unsatisfied with himself and transforms himself into a successful Jay Gatsby. Similarly, in Paul’s Case, Willia Cather creates Paul, who is thoroughly bored with his life, and sets out for New York to become what he wishes of himself. Both authors convey a similar message regarding the inability to recreate oneself, regardless of effort, and the tragic consequences that can occur due to it. Both characters are somewhat able to transform themselves, however the past continues to haunt them making it increasingly difficult to …show more content…
To summarize, Paul’s attempt to recreate himself ends miserably due to his continuous recollection of his past. Likewise, in The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby was created so that Gatsby could have a chance with Daisy. Jay Gatsby, however, is very delusional about Daisy. This is evident through what Nick says, “Almost five years! There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams — not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.” (Fitzgerald 78) Through all these years of perfecting Jay Gatsby and finding Daisy, Gatsby has created an illusion in which Daisy is perfect. However, she doesn’t meet this expectation. This illusion proves to be very problematic, and he is too delusional to notice that Daisy cannot simply forget the past as he wishes: “He wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you.’”(89) This is very difficult of a thing to expect, because Daisy has a child, whom Gatsby seems to disregard. All in all, Gatsby is far too deluded by his perfect image