Gatsby 2

Fitzgerald does a fantastic job of revealing details to us a little at a time, allowing us to pass and change judgment as the story progresses. Address the following questions in relation to the development of Jay Gatsby: 1) What is the purpose of Meyer Wolfsheim as a character? How does he affect the way we see Gatsby? 2) What does the backstory about Jay and Daisy's past do to our impressions of Gatsby? 3) What does the story of the rest of Gatsby past due to our impressions of him? 4) How does your overall impression of Gatsby change over these three chapters - do you like him more, less, and why?


1. Meyer Wolfsheim is an undeveloped insignificant character. His actions, however, are a monumental moment in the story. Wolfsheim was put in the book to give us information on Jay Gatsby. He is to change the impression we have about Gatsby, and to act as a credible source to accurately describe Gatsby and his past. Despite his descriptions of Gatsby Wolfsheim is nothing.


2. The back story about Gatsby and Daisy makes me feel sympathy for this man. A man that risked his life to save his country was left by the one woman he loved. It also makes me feel like Gatsby is more of a human than the incredibly nice figure he was prior to this information. In addition, I believe that Gatsby is missing a crucial part to his life that he is longing to gain. 


3.The rest of Gatsby's past changes our views of him also. He still seems like a nice guy, but his profession is sketchy. His work is a topic that was avoided, and that makes me feel unsure of the business he is in. If I was to find out he was involved in illegal business I would not be surprised at all. Gatsby has lost some anonymity and credibility as a character in my mind.  


4. I like Gatsby less than I did, but I still have no dislike for him. I still think he is an incredibly nice character that is generous, but he lost a lot of credibility. My suspicion for his career is heightening, and my belief that he is desperately lonely is growing. I still like Gatsby as a character, but I do not think he is the great man that I thought he was at the very beginning of the story.