The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
So far, Jay Gatsby is a familiar stranger to Nick. Over and over I've read Gatsby this Gatsby that, everyone seems to know him. The problem, everyone seems to know a different story to Gatsby. Some theories of his history include that he was a murderer, and some say just that much, but some say he killed someone in the context of being German spy in the war. One even backed up this theory with knowledge of a man who knew Gatsby supposedly very well and had grown up with him in Germany. Another disputes this claim by telling of Gatsby's being in the American army during the war. Gatsby "inspired romantic speculation" (Fitzgerald, 44). He was a mysterious charismatic, he made people all around at his own party whisper about him, the idea of him fascinated people. Once Nick and Gatsby finally met face to face, Nick wasn't even aware he was conversing with the host of the party initially. He was thrown for a loop when Gatsby announced who he was, and Nick was embarrassed he didn't the face of this great host. After their brief conversation, Nick was left in a rut of confusion. Gatsby leaves people desperate to know him, to hear his story, just as Nick turned to Jordan and demanded, "'Who is he? Do you know?' 'He's just a man named Gatsby.' 'Where is he from, I mean? And what does he do?' 'Now you're started on the subject,' she answered with a wan smile" (Fitzgerald, 48). I myself as the reader have been left with this same frustration, we finally see Gatsby's face, but we're left with an even deeper emptiness and curiosity, who is this great Gatsby?
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