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... Scott Fitgeralds novel, The Great Gatsby, says, "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known" (Fitgerald, 60). And yet despite his self-proclaimed integrity, Nick does befriend, and even admires a dishonest individual named Gatsby. During that summer, when Nick and Gatsby meet and become close, the former learns some important truths about himself, and although he is "full of interior rules," he comes to care for Gatsby despite of himself. Jay Gatsby is dishonest, but he has an intrinsic goodness and is not hurtful or mean-spirited like the other characters in the story. The summer that Nick spends with Gatsby is one of self-discovery and realizations about society. ... Once a week, Gatsby has huge, lavish, grandiose parties, filled with noisy people, delicious food, and numerous musicians. ... But Gatsbys books are not merely there for a façade; he does indeed read them, and at this early point in the book, Fitgerald is already offering evidence to suggest that Gatsby is more real than his compatriots. Eventually at the party, Nick and Gatsby finally meet and the former is immediately struck by the latters smile:
It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. ... Gatsby is a rare person, who believes in and understands Nick, but more importantly, serves as the catalyst to force Nick to believe in and understand himself.
The two begin to spend time together and although Nick discovers very little factual information about Gatsby, (rumors say he made his money in the 1919 World Series scandal, and that hes a murderer who studied at Oxford,) they grow close. Nick does discover that long ago Gatsby dated his cousin, Daisy, and is still in love with her. ... Although Nick and Gatsby have a dissention as to whether or not the past can be repeated, Nick admires Gatsbys tenacity, and drive in pursuing his former love.
Approximate Word count = 1600
Approximate Pages = 6.4
(250 words per page double spaced)
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