The Great Gatsby: A Self-Made Man
“You will be very successful one day.” That’s what he said to me a while back. My boss told me that if I worked hard and focused I would do very well. Unfortunately, at the time my thoughts were set on sleeping in and watching garbage on TV. I soon realized though that this was not a sustainable business model, so I slowly started some behavior changes. I started looking for some inspirational people to learn from. I tried to stay away from the privileged wealthy, the celebrity, and the endowed. Those who got their money either through looks, inheritance, or both. Instead I looked for those who started from the bottom. Because I found them not only more relatable but more admirable. These people who are not …show more content…
Scott. Fitzgerald that begin to imbue Gatsby with traits that describe a very hardworking and focused individual. In the last chapter of the book Gatsby’s father has in his possession an old journal of Gatsby’s, in which it shows a daily schedule as well as some general resolves that Gatsby has written down as a boy. While proudly reading from the journal Gatsby’s father explains how Gatsby was “bound to get ahead” (ch.9). His father is saying that by looking at the schedule, which starts with “Dumbell excercise and wall scaling” (ch.9); and ends with “study needed inventions”; it is obvious how Gatsby spent every spare moment of his days exercising his body and his mind. Self-improvement is a widely accepted key to success and is clearly a facet of Gatsby’s life, as shown in his resolve to “read one improving book… per week” (ch.9). This shows that Gatsby believes in constant learning through literature.
The discipline that the schedule shows is also proven later in Gatsby’s life when he joins the military. Early in the book Gatsby tells of his service in the military and brags that “every Allied government gave [him] a decoration” (ch. 4). This is taken with a grain of salt at the time but is backed up later in the book when an old friend of Gatsby’s explains that he did “extraordinarily well in the war” (ch. 8). This shows how Gatsby thrived in the harsh disciplined environment of …show more content…
Nick assumes it is so that he can “set [himself] off from his guests” (ch.3). Gatsby wishes to remain sober and alert while he socializes with his guests and future business prospects. In the next chapter it is Jordan who says that staying sober is “a great advantage…among hard drinkers” (ch. 4). And it’s true that throughout the book Gatsby is nearly the only one who refrains from drink. Along with his tireless work ethic Gatsby is also haunted by a deep obsession for his dream life of wealth and romance. And it is this dream that ultimately guides Gatsby through life. When Nick first see’s Gatsby standing out on the lawn at night, he is reaching out toward a “single green light” (ch.1) . The light represents Gatsby’s dream of wealth and a life with his love Daisy. And while this “orgastic future” (ch.9) turns out to be unreachable it still pushes Gatsby and drives
“You will be very successful one day.” That’s what he said to me a while back. My boss told me that if I worked hard and focused I would do very well. Unfortunately, at the time my thoughts were set on sleeping in and watching garbage on TV. I soon realized though that this was not a sustainable business model, so I slowly started some behavior changes. I started looking for some inspirational people to learn from. I tried to stay away from the privileged wealthy, the celebrity, and the endowed. Those who got their money either through looks, inheritance, or both. Instead I looked for those who started from the bottom. Because I found them not only more relatable but more admirable. These people who are not …show more content…
Scott. Fitzgerald that begin to imbue Gatsby with traits that describe a very hardworking and focused individual. In the last chapter of the book Gatsby’s father has in his possession an old journal of Gatsby’s, in which it shows a daily schedule as well as some general resolves that Gatsby has written down as a boy. While proudly reading from the journal Gatsby’s father explains how Gatsby was “bound to get ahead” (ch.9). His father is saying that by looking at the schedule, which starts with “Dumbell excercise and wall scaling” (ch.9); and ends with “study needed inventions”; it is obvious how Gatsby spent every spare moment of his days exercising his body and his mind. Self-improvement is a widely accepted key to success and is clearly a facet of Gatsby’s life, as shown in his resolve to “read one improving book… per week” (ch.9). This shows that Gatsby believes in constant learning through literature.
The discipline that the schedule shows is also proven later in Gatsby’s life when he joins the military. Early in the book Gatsby tells of his service in the military and brags that “every Allied government gave [him] a decoration” (ch. 4). This is taken with a grain of salt at the time but is backed up later in the book when an old friend of Gatsby’s explains that he did “extraordinarily well in the war” (ch. 8). This shows how Gatsby thrived in the harsh disciplined environment of …show more content…
Nick assumes it is so that he can “set [himself] off from his guests” (ch.3). Gatsby wishes to remain sober and alert while he socializes with his guests and future business prospects. In the next chapter it is Jordan who says that staying sober is “a great advantage…among hard drinkers” (ch. 4). And it’s true that throughout the book Gatsby is nearly the only one who refrains from drink. Along with his tireless work ethic Gatsby is also haunted by a deep obsession for his dream life of wealth and romance. And it is this dream that ultimately guides Gatsby through life. When Nick first see’s Gatsby standing out on the lawn at night, he is reaching out toward a “single green light” (ch.1) . The light represents Gatsby’s dream of wealth and a life with his love Daisy. And while this “orgastic future” (ch.9) turns out to be unreachable it still pushes Gatsby and drives