Parties In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald has the main character, Jay Gatsby, throw parties often during the summers to reveal the attitudes of the other characters as self-absorbed and this ultimately leads to the downfall of Gatsby himself.
Throughout the book, Gatsby throws parties and does not turn anyone away. The use of these parties suggests he wants to fit in with the crowd and attract a certain group of people, hoping to eventually to meet his true love. Even at his parties, Nick, the narrator states that “[he] was one of the few guests who had actually been invited” (32). People just went to the parties because of the recognition it gave them which satisfied their personal desires. They even “went without having met Gatsby at all,” and when Nick asked of his whereabouts, they “stared at [him] in such an amazed way” (33). This implies that the guests had no intentions of knowing the host, or thanking him, they only came for themselves, making this society appear narcissistic.
Many say “he killed a man,” or “he was a German spy during the war” (35). This point is also confirmed when Nick and Jordan meet Owl Eyes in the library. Owl Eyes is so ecstatic that the book is a “bona fide piece of printed matter” (36). Books represent knowledge, and in this case it is Gatsby’s past. Since no one has knowledge of Gatsby’s past, they don’t believe he is authentic, just as Owl Eyes didn’t believe the books were real. At this time, only Owl Eyes discovers Gatsby’s past. Again in the library at the end of the party, Gatsby takes Jordan into the library and reveals his past to her. This propels the rest of the story and the interactions between the characters, as people discover who Gatsby is. The scene in the library show that society is unknowing and unless they stumble upon answers, they don’t search for