Jay Gatsby: Character Development

How does Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of the novel, fundamentally change over the course of the novel, and how is this change caused by the central conflict(s) that Gatsby faces? Use textual evidence to support your claim.

This prompt asks “how” Jay Gatsby changes, but I believe the question should be, does he fundamentally change at all. Of course, there are small changes within each chapter, but there aren’t really any major changes to his character. I am currently writing an essay related to character developments for my response project, and I have found that Nick seems to be the only character that really developed or changed. On page 110, when Gatsby says “Can’t repeat the past? [ ] Why of course you can!”, it seems to confirm that Gatsby has his mind set on the romance and the past. Aside from changes in his actions (such as stopping the parties), he remains basically the same. The biggest change I see in Gatsby is his emotional openness, specifically with Nick. Gatsby confides in Nick about his feelings, as he really didn’t talk to anyone else previously. I also think that Gatsby was beginning to recognize the reality of his world, but he was killed near that time. I believe when he says “Her voice is full of money” (Page 120), he is recognizing that these characters (Tom, and Daisy), are absorbed in their wealth. This is mentioned later on by Nick. 

Climax and Conflicts

"What is the climax (turning point) of the novel? How do you know? How is the central conflict addressed in the climax? Use textual evidence to back up your claims."

In our reading for this week, all of the plots seem to collide and the conflicts come to a head. I think that the “turning point” of the novel is in chapter 7, where Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom all come together. Tom begins to get angrier at Gatsby and reveals lies that Gatsby had told. Tom speaks about Gatsby’s drug business and how he never went to Oxford. While Tom explained that he uncovered all these secrets, Gatsby encouraged Daisy to revoke her love for Tom. Gatsby wanted Daisy to tell Tom she didn’t love him, which she said multiple times. The love relationships between Gatsby/Tom/Daisy are the central conflict in the story. Daisy admits her love for Gatsby. The emotions are very strong and everyone is agitated. Daisy and Gatsby leave and this leads to the death of Myrtle. (Which then leads to Gatsby’s death). I might consider Gatsby’s death as a secondary climax, but this 'get together' prior to Gatsby’s death was really the “turning point”. Gatsby’s death brings the story to a closing. 

Daisy and Gatsby

"In chapter 5, what is revealed about the characters of Gatsby and Daisy based upon their reactions to each other when they finally meet?”

In chapter 5, Daisy and Gatsby finally meet. This moment was long awaited by Gatsby. He had been planning it for years. He set up his life around meeting Daisy. Gatsby was extremely nervous before he met Daisy, which was a side of his character which I had not seen before. When he and Daisy were actually speaking and were near each other, he became more loving. Gatsby then seems to be completely in awe that this moment is finally happening. Gatsby’s attitude about life seemed to change a bit too. Daisy altered his perception of things. Gatsby also slipped up about his past which revealed he didn’t only inherit all of his money. We also learn that the Green Light represents Gatsby’s search for love with Daisy. Daisy seems fairly the same but is a bit more emotional than she has been in the past. I feel like Daisy was able to forget about her current life with Tom while with Gatsby. 

Essentially, Gatsby and Daisy’s true feelings are revealed about each other. Gatsby also doesn’t turn out the be the very laid-back wealthy man easy life. He is actually more awkward and has devoted a bit of his life in search of that objectified American dream of a woman. 

Nick Carraway's Judgments

“In the first two pages of the novel, Nick Carraway claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgment." Do you find that this is true so far? Please provide textual evidence to support your position.”

The Great Gatsby is Narrated by Nick Carraway. Nick claims to reserve all judgments. It’s a bit difficult to tell if he really is reserving all judgments, because in various places throughout the book he makes what could be considered judgments.  The most profound thing that Nick says that makes me believe he doesn’t reserve all judgment is when he said that Gatsby represents  “everything for which I have an unaffected scorn." He is evidently making judgments about Gatsby here. Another example which may seem like a judgment is when he speaks about Tom and his home. On page 6 Nick seemingly judges their home, saying, “Their house was even more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion, overlooking the bay.” On page 7 he says “[Tom’s] body is capable of enormous leverage--a cruel body.” He also says Tom’s voice conveys “fractiousness”. I don’t think these should be considered judgments. I feel that this is simply how the author has chosen to describe characters since the story is told by a character that is the narrator. I don’t feel that Nick reserves all judgments, but I think most of his descriptions aren’t meant to be judgments.