Jay Gatsby as Tragic Hero of Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby Essay

Jay Gatsby as Tragic Hero of Fitzgeralds The bang-up Gatsby match to Aristotle, there be a number of characteristics that identify a tragic hero he must cause his own downfall his fate is not deserved, and his punishment exceeds the crime he also must be of noble stature and have greatness. These are all characteristics of Jay Gatsby, the main character of Fitzgeralds novel, The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is a tragic hero agree to Aristotles definition. Jay Gatsby is an enormously rich man, and in the flashy years of the jazz age, wealth defined importance. Gatsby has endless wealth, force-out and influence still never uses material objects selfishly. Everything he owns exists only to attain his vision. Nick feels inclined to reserve all judgements (1), but despite his disapproval of Gatsbys vulgarity, Nick respects him for the potency and unselfishness of his idealism. Gatsby is a romantic dreamer who wishes to fulfill his ideal by gaining wealth in hopes of impressing and ev entually winning the heart of the materialistic, superficial Daisy. She is, however, completely worthless of his worship. Then it had been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor (79). Nick realizes Gatsbys estate, parties, shirts and other seemingly purposeless possessions are not purposeless. Everything Gatsby does, every come upon he makes and every decision he conceives is for a reason. He wants to achieve his ideal, Daisy. Gatsbys purposeless splendor is all for the woman he loves and wishes to represent his ideal. Furthermore, Gatsby believes he mountain win his woman with riches, and that his woman can achieve the ideal she sta... ...w World (182). Gatsbys vision corresponds to that of the explorers who discover the promise of the New World. Gatsby is a man of extreme capabilities but he fails to see the inevitability of his visions failure, and in his inability to see this, he keeps trying to attain it. He does everything in his power to accomplish this vision, until his death. Daisy indirectly causes Gatsbys death, qualification her more than ever, unworthy of Gatsbys affections. Ironically, Gatsby lived for Daisy and up to his death, believed and had faith in her and his vision. Works Cited Dillon, Andrew. The Great Gatsby The Vitality of Illusion. The Arizona Quarterly 44 Spr. 1988 49-61.Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992.Irwin, rear end T. Compensating Visions The Great Gatsby. Southwest Review 77 Autumn 1992 536-545. Jay Gatsby as Tragic Hero of Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby EssayJay Gatsby as Tragic Hero of Fitzgeralds The Great GatsbyAccording to Aristotle, there are a number of characteristics that identify a tragic hero he must cause his own downfall his fate is not deserved, and his punishment exceeds the crime he also must be of noble stature and have greatness. These are all characteristics of Jay Gatsby, the main character of Fitzgeralds novel, The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is a tragic hero according to Aristotles definition. Jay Gatsby is an enormously rich man, and in the flashy years of the jazz age, wealth defined importance. Gatsby has endless wealth, power and influence but never uses material objects selfishly. Everything he owns exists only to attain his vision. Nick feels inclined to reserve all judgements (1), but despite his disapproval of Gatsbys vulgarity, Nick respects him for the strength and unselfishness of his idealism. Gatsby is a romantic dreamer who wishes to fulfill his ideal by gaining wealth in hopes of impressing and eventually winning the heart of the materialistic, superficial Daisy. She is, however, completely undeserving of his worship. Then it had been merely the stars to which he had aspired on that June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor (79). Nick realizes Gatsb ys estate, parties, shirts and other seemingly purposeless possessions are not purposeless. Everything Gatsby does, every move he makes and every decision he conceives is for a reason. He wants to achieve his ideal, Daisy. Gatsbys purposeless splendor is all for the woman he loves and wishes to represent his ideal. Furthermore, Gatsby believes he can win his woman with riches, and that his woman can achieve the ideal she sta... ...w World (182). Gatsbys vision corresponds to that of the explorers who discover the promise of the New World. Gatsby is a man of extreme capabilities but he fails to see the inevitability of his visions failure, and in his inability to see this, he keeps trying to attain it. He does everything in his power to accomplish this vision, until his death. Daisy indirectly causes Gatsbys death, making her more than ever, unworthy of Gatsbys affections. Ironically, Gatsby lived for Daisy and up to his death, believed and had faith in her and his vision. Works Ci ted Dillon, Andrew. The Great Gatsby The Vitality of Illusion. The Arizona Quarterly 44 Spr. 1988 49-61.Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992.Irwin, John T. Compensating Visions The Great Gatsby. Southwest Review 77 Autumn 1992 536-545.