14. Self Improvement

The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Rise from bed......................................................... 6.00            A.M.
  Dumbbell exercise and wall-scaling.................... 6.15-6.30      ''
  Study electricity, etc............................................. 7.15-8.15       ''
  Work........................................................................ 8.30-4.30   P.M.
  Baseball and sports................................................ 4.30-5.00     ''
  Practice elocution, poise, and how to attain it..... 5.00-6.00    ''
  Study needed inventions........................................ 7.00-9.00    ''" (Fitzgerald, 173)

This journal given to Nick by Gatsby's dad I think really showed some last pieces of insight into Gatsby's character. He was out to improve himself, even from a young age. He idolized certain qualities in people, for example, poise, and he made plans to practice it so he could embody a better version of himself. Eventually though, when he meets Daisy, and her obsession with her own wealth is prevalent, and his new mission develops into the desire to become good enough for Daisy- wealthy enough, poised enough, popular enough. I can actually identify with Gatsby in this sense, I am obsessed with the idea of making myself better and oftentimes externalize my hopes for myself through lists and writing like young Gatz did in his journal. I think this truly captivates the means of his motive for becoming wealthy, popular, and good enough for Daisy. It seems that he has been intrinsically motivated up until the point when he met Daisy, and when he transferred his motivation to external desires, which was unfortunate in the long run, he became obsessed with external proofs of success, because he was all so caught up with impressing Daisy. Young Gatsby really set the stage for himself and his future failure when he began self-improving for other reasons and for other people than just himself.