Adolescent Heroism in The Great Gatsby

In F. Scott FitzgeraldÆs The Great Gatsby, the narrator Nick initially believes Jay Gatsby is the consummate hero, a self-confident master of his domain. As Nick tells us, ôSomething in his leisurely movements and the secure position of his feet upon the lawn suggested that it was Mr. Gatsby himself, come out to determine what share was his of our local heavensö (Fitzgerald 21). Despite this lofty image of Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is nothing more than the product of arrested development, a man whose adolescent notions of what it is to be a ôheroö are based on surface appearances and illusions.

Jay Gatsby appears to all onlookers as the Lord of West Egg, Long Island. From his lavish home to his impeccable grooming and style, Gatsby appears to be the ideal hero. He appears to have it all to Nick, the embodiment of perfection in looks, dress, style and demeanor. However, Jay Gatsby is actually a low-born son of unsuccessful farmers whose adolescent notions of what it is to be heroic cause h

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Approximate Word count = 716
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page)