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CJ De Vault

English 3H Block 1

Mrs. Storer

3/2/20

Papier-mâché

     It is better to be true to oneself rather than hiding behind a mask. The Great

Gatsby,  written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, features the tragic story of Jay Gatsby, a millionaire who

has everything in the world but feels as if he has nothing socially. In his quest for prosperity, Jay

Gatsby uses the persona he creates to make his life better than the past, pursue the girl of his

dreams, and to feel like he belongs with old money.

Gatsby was disgusted with himself in the past. Jay was once at the bottom of the social

hierarchy and was appalled with having anything less than luxury. During his time attending St.

Olaf College, Gatsby was craving a life of wealth and greatness, “He stayed there two weeks,

dismayed at its ferocious indifference to the drums of his destiny, to destiny itself, and despising

the janitor’s work with which he was to pay his way through.” (Fitzgerald 106). He scoffs at his

current life and job at the time. Gatsby has always been consumed in this concept of wealth, and

his current condition in college did not fit the ultimate vision for himself. So, to forget his

terrible job, he uses an alternate persona, one that allows him to start over. The persona he

creates fits his vision and the “destiny” Gatsby wants. The excessive displays of wealth like his

parties fill the void he felt in college. Another example of Gatsby changing his life from the past

is Nick’s narration at the beginning of chapter 6. For Gatsby to completely start over, he needed

to address the very beginning. Gatsby felt his parents did not do enough for him, and to be frank

“his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all”, so he came to the idea
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“that Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island” would spring “from his Platonic conception of

himself” (Fitzgerald 105). This is the point where Gatsby makes the final leap of forgetting his

past to focus on the future. Fitzgerald’s reference to Plato articulates Plato’s proposition that

ideas are separate from reality. Gatsby forms his ideal persona to separate himself from his real

identity and thus the past. People often throw away exes’ gifts after a harsh breakup, but Gatsby

is willing to ignore his entire life up until this point just so he can move onto a better life. A life

with the opportunity to find love.

Gatsby’s newfound identity allows him to pursue Daisy, someone who represents success

and prosperity in his eyes. Gatsby’s version of success does not just include luxury, but also his

dream girl, so naturally, Gatsby is very sensitive to the way Daisy sees him. After one of

Gatsby’s parties, Gatsby voices his concerns about Daisy with Nick: “She didn’t like it,’ he said

immediately. ‘Of course she did.’ ‘She didn’t like it,’ he insisted. ‘She didn’t have a good time”

(Fitzgerald 117). Gatsby does not want to ruin his opportunity with Daisy, everything needs to be

perfect if he wishes there to be any relationship between them. His meticulous observation

reveals just how much Gatsby is attached to Daisy. Daisy is exactly what he needs to reach his

lofty aspirations his persona demands. In Gatsby’s eyes, the dream girl would add to his dream

vision of himself. Another instance of his careful calculation with Daisy is when she is invited

over to Nick’s for tea. Gatsby needs to make sure everything is in good order upon Daisy’s

arrival, Nick describes, “The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o’clock a greenhouse arrived

from Gatsby’s, with innumerable receptacles to contain it. An hour later the front door opened

nervously, and Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold-colored tie hurried in. He was

pale and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes” (Fitzgerald 90). It can be

inferred that Gatsby was really worried about the meeting. The description of his entire outfit
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would lead the reader to believe that he chose every piece of his outfit with careful precision just

for the occasion. For Gatsby to go out of his way to make sure that Nick’s house was in good

condition for Daisy expands on the idea that he sees Daisy as the perfect person to compliment

his persona. Everything must be perfect for the perfect girl, and Gatsby makes sure of this.

Without his persona, Gatsby would not be able to have his chance with Daisy, nevertheless, her

being a girl from old money.

Gatsby wants to feel equal to those with old money. Social status is very important to him,

and coming from nothing to brushing elbows with the rich takes serious work. However, Gatsby

is still not cut from the same cloth as the Buchanan’s and those alike. To put it bluntly, Gatsby is

not welcome and sometimes awkward when it comes to dealing with people from old money.

When Tom and his posse show up to Gatsby’s doorstep and Gatsby is invited to a party, Gatsby

cannot pick up on the social cue that he is not wanted, “I haven’t got a horse,’ said Gatsby. ‘I

used to ride in the army but I’ve never bought a horse. I’ll have to follow you in my car. Excuse

me for just a minute.’ The rest of us walked out on the porch, where Sloane and the lady began

an impassioned conversation aside. ‘My God, I believe the man’s coming,’ said Tom. ‘Doesn’t

he know she doesn’t want him?” (111). There is obvious discontent for Gatsby from Tom, which

illustrates the disparity between new and old money. Tom is the epitome of old money, and for

him to instantly denounce Gatsby shows that Gatsby’s persona is not holding up well. Gatsby

intends to hide behind his extravagant home and parties to fit in. Yet, those might be the things

that make him stand out from the rest since people with old money do not flaunt their wealth.

The reader can see this again during Gatsby and Nick’s car ride to the city. Gatsby makes a point

to Nick about the rumors about him: “Look here, old sport,’ he broke out surprisingly. ‘What’s

your opinion of me, anyhow?’ A little overwhelmed, I began the generalized evasions which that
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question deserves. ‘Well, I’m going to tell you something about my life,’ he interrupted. ‘I don’t

want you to get a wrong idea of me from all these stories you hear’ … ‘I’m going to make a big

request of you today,’ he said, pocketing his souvenirs with satisfaction, ‘so I thought you ought

to know something about me. I didn’t want you to think I was just some nobody” (Fitzgerald 70-

73). Gatsby seems nervous when talking to Nick, almost looking for approval and validation. He

uses the time alone to fix his image and clarify to Nick that he is a respectable, wealthy man.

Gatsby plays into his persona to make himself feel like he is in the same social standing as those

with old money. He brings up war stories, and pictures from Oxford just to confirm his story.

All in all, the identity Gatsby created allows him to pursue a new life filled with many

opportunities to restart. The Great Gatsby shows how Jay Gatsby utilizes his persona to make his

life better than the past, pursue the girl of his dreams, and to feel like he belongs with old money,

all in his search of prosperity. The reader can learn a lot when analyzing the character of Jay

Gatsby. The novel brings attention to the psychological problem of reaction formation. Gatsby

uses this psychological defense mechanism to hide the shame of his past lifestyle and his lower-

class upbringing. He uses his lavish displays of wealth such as his parties to combat this feeling

of shame. Gatsby also represents the negative side of materialism. Gatsby was in constant pursuit

of Daisy, who represented luxury. This never-ending chase leads Gatsby to his inevitable death.

The main takeaway from the tragic tale is to see how wealth and insecurity can work together to

lead someone down the wrong path in life.

Works Cited

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.