The Great Gatsby

After reading The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby offers what seems to be the picture perfect example of someone who lives life to the fullest. Gatsby is a rich man who throws parties and flaunts his wealth to others. However, his past was not nearly as glamorous. James Gatz grew up in North Dakota and went to serve in the military. He left his love Daisy when he went to war. He later came home to hear she had married another man. He believed that his lack of wealth was the reason Daisy left him. After facing this adversity, Gatz decided to change his name and take action to try and be with Daisy again. He slowly became wealthy and moved into an area near her. He throws parties to attract her and finally gets his chance later in the story. Sadly, he doesn't end up achieving his goals, but his actions beforehand define him as the hero of the story. Gatsby offers the perfect example of the American Dream. He became a businessman and built up his wealth. Gatsby spends his whole life working to achieve his "American Dream," Daisy. she represents his success and goals in life. Had he not taken action he wouldn't never have had a chance. However, he decided to change his life and work toward his goals. While the morality of Gatsby's particular rise to wealth shows flaws in his character, his decisions to take action and face life head on, make him the protagonist of the story. Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy, about life and death, categorizes all characters and people based on their way of life. It can be applied to a plethora of stories to help see what decisions make the protagonist so great.