How Is Jay Gatsby A Tragic Hero
Heroes are ordinary people who choose to do the extraordinary. In F Scott Fitzgerald’s fictional novel set in the 1920’s The Great Gatsby the protagonist Jay Gatsby is a tragic hero. Jay Gatsby has three noticeable characteristics: a tragic flaw, is responsible for his own downfall, and is from noble birth. Therefore, in F Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920 book The Great Gatsby the protagonist is a tragic hero. As a result of Gatsby having a tragic flaw he is a tragic hero. Gatsby is incapable of letting go of the past and moving on. “‘You ought to go away,’ I said. ‘It’s pretty certain they’ll trace your car.’ ‘Go away now, old sport?”’ (Fitzgerald 148). Gatsby loves Daisy and is unwilling to move on, he cannot forget when him and Daisy were a thing and is addicted to the idea of Daisy. Another one of Gatsby’s tragic flaws is that he is determined to be rich. “‘He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side- street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter.”’ (Fitzgerald 133). Gatsby was so persistent on becoming rich to the point
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that he went into an illegal business with Wolfsheim so that he could become rich. Accordingly Gatsby has a tragic flaw making him a tragic hero. Additionally since Gatsby was responsible for his own downfall he is a tragic hero.
Gatsby loved Daisy to the point that it was ultimately what killed him. “‘Was Daisy driving?’ ‘Yes,’ he said after a moment, ‘but of course I’ll say I was.”’ (Fitzgerald 143). Daisy had run over Myrtle and killed her but Gatsby is taking the blame and Myrtle’s husband kills Gatsby because he thinks Gatsby killed Myrtle. Gatsby refused to leave after the incident with Myrtle because he was hoping he could still be with Daisy. “He couldn't possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn't bear to shake him free.” (Fitzgerald 148). Gatsby loved Daisy and would not leave knowing there was a chance Daisy might still pick him, he chose to stay knowing he could be accused of murder and killed. Thus Gatsby was responsible for his own downfall which qualifies him to be a tragic
hero.
that he went into an illegal business with Wolfsheim so that he could become rich. Accordingly Gatsby has a tragic flaw making him a tragic hero. Additionally since Gatsby was responsible for his own downfall he is a tragic hero.
Gatsby loved Daisy to the point that it was ultimately what killed him. “‘Was Daisy driving?’ ‘Yes,’ he said after a moment, ‘but of course I’ll say I was.”’ (Fitzgerald 143). Daisy had run over Myrtle and killed her but Gatsby is taking the blame and Myrtle’s husband kills Gatsby because he thinks Gatsby killed Myrtle. Gatsby refused to leave after the incident with Myrtle because he was hoping he could still be with Daisy. “He couldn't possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn't bear to shake him free.” (Fitzgerald 148). Gatsby loved Daisy and would not leave knowing there was a chance Daisy might still pick him, he chose to stay knowing he could be accused of murder and killed. Thus Gatsby was responsible for his own downfall which qualifies him to be a tragic
hero.