Reality And Illusions In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the narrator vicariously recounts Jay Gatsby’s flaw as his inability to distinguish between reality and illusions, which can be seen through his persistent goal of acquiring the wealth and power of the individuals who are considered “old-money.” Although the social hierarchy established by the classification of individuals as either “old-money” or “new-money” made attaining a different status an elusive task, Gatsby chooses to ignore this reality. He instead begins to live in the illusion that he will be able to obtain the wealth and power necessary to fit in with the elite “old-money” individuals. In order to achieve his goal, Gatsby creates his own persona. His fabrication of ‘Jay Gatsby,’ a powerful and successful individual, develops from his experiences as James Gatz, the former identity that he wishes to
disassociate himself from. In order to subtly break away from the overlooked version of his old self, he looks to create an illusion that will eventually transform him into a new person. Through his involvement in illicit negotiations, he acquires his power with the help of Meyer Wolfsheim, an individual who provides him with the laudable reputation and excessive affluence he so desperately longs for. His inability to distinguish between reality and illusions develops throughout his relationship with Daisy. His obstinate desire of repeating the past plays into his obsession over ending up with the girl who enthralled his attention five years before, the privileged Daisy Fay. Gatsby’s obsession with repeating the past appears when he states, “I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before.” Although Daisy marries and starts her family during the time she spends apart from Gatsby, he chooses to ignore reality and instead naively believes that his relationship with her can return to its original youthful romance. His tentative feelings swell upon awaiting to reunite with Daisy as he “[looks around] with vacant eyes, [treading] the kitchen floor and [peering] toward the bleared windows.” The illusion he builds his life around leads him to believe that his dream girl remains waiting for him, whereas his reality reveals a different version of the girl he fell in love with.
In reality, the five year gap leaves him remaining detached from her. Living in his (man-made illusion) he has created for himself, he foolishly accepts Daisy’s incoherent and empty promise of her love as she passively tells Gatsby the words he wants to hear. His denial and unwillingness to leave the past in the past triggers a desire of “wanting nothing less than Daisy that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you.’” He pushes away the thought of being her ‘second choice’ and continues living in his ideal perception of the situation. His belief that he will end up with Daisy causes him to disregard any apprehension that her increased presence in his life could lead to dire consequences. His brief summer of ecstasy is short-lived, ceasing as his dream of eliciting a guarantee from Daisy concerning her exit from Tom’s embrace
erodes.