Gatsby's Devolution

            Jay Gatz/Gatsby, the main character from the novel The Great Gatsby, is a character that never really reached full development. From the very beginning he is simply an enigma to the reader, but not to the narrator of the book Nick. He tells us about this character from the point of view of any outsider. However, as Nick become more involved within the complex story line, so does his interpretation of Gatsby. 

In the first few paragraphs, we are presented with the man of mystery, the man who might have killed someone, and simply the man who throws the parties in West Egg. All of these stereotypes encircle a man with a dream, Jay Gatsby. We know for sure that he is a millionaire who spends all of his money on the most luxurious things. He wants to appeal to everybody, he wants to be everyone’s friend, and he seems to accomplish this through is eloquent festivities to which everybody, who’s anybody attends. 

As the novel progresses, we learn that Gatsby ison a mission. He wants to recapture the heart of his ex-lover Daisy Buchanan. She is now married to a man named Tom Buchanan. We soon find out that he has built his life upon a pedestal simply to lure Daisy away from Tom in-order-to grace her with the luxurious eloquence that he was not able to provide before the war. But, what exactly happened before the war? Why did Gatsby and Daisy not marry? Gatsby was a poor, your soldier who was not able to provide for a spouse because he was poor. We are not told about his humble background until the climax of the story where all his skeletons are dragged out of the closet. He continues living for Daisy, whom he never obtains in the end, causing him to never develop into what he could have been for he is simply stuck in the past. The idea that the novel is a foreshadow is the perfect element to create the metaphor that Gatsby never progresses, but rather remains a memory. 

The greatest conflict seen in the novel is just that, Gatsby is nothing but a memory of the past, yet he cannot seem to let go of what he once had. He believes that he can change all that has happened with money and charm, but the theme that money does not buy happiness proves to be the downfall of this character. All his fantasy money, and luxury is extinguished along with him. Gatsby becomes completely vanquished with his dream.