Theme Of Gatsby's Death

In Ch 9, F. Scott Fitzgerald elucidates the aftermath of Gatsby’s death, in which Nick desperately tries to gather Gatsby’s close friends for his imminent funeral. As Nick fails to find such people, Fitzgerald reveals that Gatsby, although a man of supposed stature and renown, has made no difference on anyone’s lives, dead or alive, except for Nick’s, who seems to idolize Gatsby; this is apparent as Nick seems intent on taking responsibility for Gatsby’s postmortem affairs, even though he, just like all of Gatsby’s close friends, did not know Gatsby at all, in turn showing that most everyone only feigned admiration for Gatsby, presumably for his wealth. Although he claims to scorn Gatsby, Nick works hard to ensure a proper funeral for Gatsby …show more content…
In an effort to find Gatsby’s friends and family, Nick “look[s] hastily through…[Gatsby’s] desk,” not able to find a trace of his parents (165). Similarly, Wolfsheim “kindly” avoids coming to support Nick, also claiming he does “not know [Gatsby’s] family at all” (166). Fitzgerald, in effect, demonstrates that even Gatsby’s closest friends cannot even identify his family. However, this reflects on Gatsby as well, who refused to reveal his entire identity to anyone around him, effectively maintaining his air of mystery, even after death. This also extends to Gatsby’s family, particularly his father, who believes Gatsby would have “helped build the country” (168). Although Gatsby did have a lot of power, his dad idealizes Gatsby, just as Nick does, but without any genuine knowledge of Gatsby’s corrupt business deals and affairs; Gatsby keeps his personal life as well as his professional life to himself- nobody knows who Gatsby really is, regardless of his supposed relationship with Nick, Wolfsheim, and his own …show more content…
Nick’s instinct to call Daisy is rejected when he learns that she and Tom had “gone away,” leaving no way to “reach them” (164). As Nick attempts to call other people for Gatsby’s funeral, he is met with surprisingly tactless responses from many, as shown when one man simply makes a “quick squawk” and breaks the connection, while another lies to avoid attending the funeral and only asks for “a pair of shoes [he] left there” (167,9). In this scene, Fitzgerald breaks the powerful image of Gatsby, as he goes from the most admired man in town to the most irrelevant in a matter of a gunshot. Nick cannot find anyone who demonstrates any sympathy for Gatsby, even stating that “they were hard to find” (169). Through this, the author highlights that the big crowds Gatsby surrounded himself with was a mere front for his lack of personal connection; the people are only there because of his money, and after Gatsby dies, they merely flock towards the next nearest pile of money. Once all the glamour of Gatsby’s house disappears, the shallow people of West Egg do not see the appeal of Gatsby anymore, leaving Nick alone to carry the burden of Gatsby’s