The Great Gatsby Essay Plan

Using the car journey in Chapter Four as a starting point, assess if the reader gets to see the real Gatsby in the novel.

Introduction

Many sides to Gatsby are seen, mainly through Nick but also Jordan's perspective.

Chapter Four is structured in three parts, each showing a different side to Gatsby.

Many sides are seen, suggesting that one side must be the true Gatsby but it is not clear which.

Paragraph One

In Chapter Four Nick lists guests at Gatsby's party. This makes the account appear more reliable so we, as the reader, are more likely to trust his assumptions and accounts of Gatsby.

Earlier in the novel it was revealed that Gatsby held these extravagant parties in hope of finding Daisy. This shows an obsessed and romantic side to him.

Gatsby is rarely seen at the parties, implying he is hiding like he is hiding the truth about himself. 

The behaviour of his guests appear to be dark and sinister. For example, one man "strangled his wife". This emphasises the darkness beneath the hedonistic lifestyle and implies that Gatsby his hiding a sinister side to his personality.

Paragraph Two

The sinister side to Gatsby is further implied in the second part of the chapter when Myer Wolfshiem is introduced.

A sinister side to Wolfshiem is implied when he says "filled with faces dead and gone" suggesting crime. 

They have lunch in the "half darkness" suggesting shady dealings and beneath Gatsby's innocence is a life of crime which has funded the lifestyle he now lives. This makes the rumors such as "he killed a man" appear more realistic.

It is clear that Nick is uncomfortable in Wolfshiem's presence and asks questions "innocently" showing that he does not live a life of crime. This implies that he thinks negatively of Wolfshiem and therefore may try and show a negative side to Gatsby.

Paragraph Three

Jordan's first person narrative shows a romantic side to Gatsby. 

She says Gatsby "looked at Daisy while she was speaking in a way every young girl wants to be looked at". This implies Gatsby's adoration for Daisy and suggests how romantic he was. It also implies that he was the person every girl dreamed of.

Gatsby writing to Daisy the day before he wedding shows that he never stopped loving her. 

Gatsby was not able to tell Nick his past himself, and it is possible that he told Jordan a fake story. however, it is evident that there is a history between Gatsby and Daisy. 

Conclusion

Two main sides to Gatsby are seen-romantic and criminal.

From Jordan's story, Gatsby did not appear to have any links to crime suggesting that the real Gatsby is romantic. He became associated with crime in order to gain more money and to lead a more extravagant lifestyle which he feels in needed to please Daisy.