Examples Of Selfishness In The Great Gatsby

Nick’s impression of Gatsby

The second character that seems to know about Gatsby’s role in organized crime is Tom. Tom lets everyone know what kind of man Gatsby really is when he is arguing with him, “She’s not leaving me! Certainly not for a common swindler who’d have to steal to put a ring on her finger. ”(133). This is Fitzgerald's way of saying that everything Gatsby has he got by doing things the wrong

Throughout the book he gets phone calls from whom his butler just states the city they come from, leaving us to infer they are to discuss his bootlegging ordeals. Fitzgerald sees Gatsby as cheating his way into a life of riches by making a crime of his job and using his money to become hierarchy to the law. In the book Fitzgerald discusses how Gatsby’s boss Wolfsheim abuses his power by saying “The idea staggered me. I remembered, of course, that the World's Series had been fixed in 1919, but if I had thought of it at all I would have thought of it as a thing that merely happened, the end of some inevitable chain. It never occurred to me that one man could start to play with the faith of fifty million people – with the single-mindedness of a burglar blowing a safe.”

This is evident when Gatsby is involved with a Mr. Meyer Wolfsheim who according to Gatsby, "Meyer Wolfsheim? No, he's a gambler. " Gatsby hesitated, then added coolly: "He's the man who fixed the World's Series back in 1919" (73). Nick seemingly denies the assertion that Gatsby’s questionably ethical business association with Wolfsheim could not have much effect on his character.

What is so great about the “Great Gatsby”? Though he has many moments showing his kindness and generosity, there are also many points where he is inconsiderate and selfish. Within the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby can be seen in multiple different lights, whether his words and actions show his many great traits, or they show his many flaws. Gatsby’s actions and behaviors show how kind people can begin to lose themselves when it comes to love, causing them to make irrational and immoral decisions.

Did you know that 7% of fatal car accidents are hit - and run accidents, and 30% are due to drunk driving? The Great Gatsby gives an example of both, showing how actions like these have poor consequences. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the motif of vehicles shows how selfishness affects relationships in a negative way. As a result of selfishness, not only vehicles were harmed, but people were as well.

And with this doubt, his whole statement fell to pieces, and I wondered if there wasn’t something a little sinister about him, after all.” (Fitzgerald Chapter 4, page 65) In this quote, Nick is realizing that Gatsby may not be as honest as he first appeared. The fact that Gatsby stumbled and choked on his words as if he was trying to hide or conceal something makes Nick become suspicious of Gatsby and the life he portrays. Gatsby’s character has been developed since the beginning of the novel as rising from rags to riches and attaining notoriety and unending wealth.

This is further emphasized when Nick reflects on Gatsby's true nature, "He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced--or seemed to face--the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself" (Fitzgerald

(Fitzgerald 116). Although Gatsby desperately wants to hear anything but this, Nick tries to bring reason to his longing soul. His vehement attempts to give Gatsby truth, even though they aren’t the closest of acquaintainces, paints an accurate picture of Nick’s heroic character. He does what is in his power to dissuade Gatsby from making the mistake of chasing the past that will uproot his and his love’s lives and make them irreparable. In this instance, Nick strives for the emotional protection from poor decisions, however he also advises against riskily putting oneself in physical danger.

" Under the circumstances Nick hardly expects any section of Gatsby's fabulous story to be true..." (Donaldson 161). Gatsby manipulates Nick throughout the novel, causing

Throughout the novel, Nick tends to be the observer in the background. Rather than being incorporated into Fitzgerald’s constant dramatizations between characters, he simply watches them happen. As a result, Nick notices all the nuances, actions, and gestures of Gatsby. Inevitably, these observations lead Nick to characterize him in certain ways. For example, when Gatsby comes to pick Nick up for a lunch meeting, Nick notices that Gatsby was “never quite still; there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand” (Fitzgerald 64).

Nick’s idolization of Gatsby is evident. Because of this, Nick subconsciously turns the story in Gatsby’s favour and is quick to dismiss any other character’s perspective. Nick’s favouritism of Gatsby is evident when he states “Only Gatsby, the man who I give his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction- Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have unaffected scorn,” (Fitzgerald 2). Nick’s feelings for Gatsby are complicated. Nick hates what Gatsby represents yet makes excuses for his misdeeds.

While Gatsby and Nick drive to the city, Gatsby is stopped by an officer for recklessly driving, in response Gatsby shows the officer a card, notifying the officer of his wealth and status (74). Gatsby uses his wealth to get a privilege that would be otherwise inaccessible to anyone of lower class status. When using his wealth to get away with a crime, Gatsby showcases the puppeteering done by the rich within society to benefit themselves. Gatsby introduces Nick to a friend named Meyer Woldshiem who he claims was responsible for fixing the 1919 World Series(76). Wolfsheim, a wealthy businessman, utilizes his wealth to do an illegal deed likely to enhance his wealth.

After his encounter with Gatsby, Nick went home curious and happy, questioning Gatsby’s legitimacy and admiring him at the same time. One day, Gatsby arrived at Nick’s house one morning in his vibrant yellow car. Offering to take Nick to lunch, during the drive Gatsby asks Nick his opinion of him, Nick tried to avoid the question but Gatsby begins to talk to him about his “past”. His time at Oxford, what he did during the war, etc. He said all this in a sarcastic tone, which Nick took note of.

He’s a smart man.”, acknowledged the fact the Wolfsheim is a criminal. Through Gatsby’s criminal activities and his acceptance of crimes due to his love for Daisy, Fitzgerald has successfully portrayed that Gatsby is corrupted due to his race for the American Dream, which further disdain