When James Gatz changed his name to Jay Gatsby, he lost his former self and family. When Gatsby left for the war, he lost the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. But the final blow came when Gatsby died from loving Daisy in a foolish way. The death of Gatsby marks the end of F. Scott Fitzgerald's tale of the 1920's lifestyle about careless rich people, The Great Gatsby. In this book, Jay Gatsby plays the protagonist and the only rich person who cares for someone other than himself. (His love for Daisy runs deeper than his wallet.) Gatsby, as well as Fitzgerald, struggles to find what meaning can be made out of parties and luxuries. The author wants to show Gatsby as a person of morals, who people can see as a role model. But Gatsby also has to withstand the criticisms that come from the people who attend his parties and eat his food. This criticism of him and his money causes his obscurity. He is never a good host at his parties because he has a hidden agenda since he is waiting for the time when Daisy comes over. This means that he must throw lavish parties in order to entice her. In doing so, he creates a shroud of mystery. On p. 48, a partygoer tells the narrator, Nick Carraway, some gossip about Gatsby. "...it's more that he was a Germany spy during the war." No one knows how Gatsby acquires his money or what his agenda is. It is this element of mystery that Fitzgerald wraps around Gatsby that makes the reader wonder who he really is.

Another trait of Gatsby is his foolishness. Who would allow himself to self destruct for love? Furthermore, should a person go to any length to show devotion, knowing that it will never be returned? Gatsby fails to see that Daisy doesn't return his affection. Even if Gatsby had survived the gunshots inflicted by George Wilson, would he ever be able to live happily ever after with Daisy? On p. 139, Daisy shows her frustration with Gatsby when she says, "Oh you want too much!" Daisy is describing her turmoil resulting from Gatsby's insistence on her telling her husband Tom she never loved him. She can't do this because, if she leaves Tom, it will be a disgrace to her family. Throwing her husband over for a bootlegger is not socially acceptable in Daisy's world.

Does Jay Gatsby resemble the author F. Scott Fitzgerald? The Great Gatsby is an autobiographical account of what Fitzgerald had to endure in order to seek the unattainable love of his life. Gatsby loved Daisy and Fitzgerald loved Sarah Murphy, but both women were married to other men and interested in social stature rather than love outside marriage. And both men suffered - Gatsby from the gunshot and Fitzgerald from alcohol. Fortunately for us, this suffering has resulted in great literature.

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