When Nick enters the extravagant lifestyle of West Egg, he is home from war and an admiring outsider; the maturation and development of his character also distinguishes him from the other characters in the novel. His entrance into the priveleged class is initially marked with pride and excitement, which starkly contrasts the feelings of detestation and disgust that envelop his departure. Fitzgerald engages the reader on a journey parallel to Nick’s journey of self-discovery. …showed first 75 words of 1558 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1558 total…that although Gatsby, “represented everything for which he had unaffected scorn”(6), there remained, “something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life”(6). His “extraordinary gift for hope”(6) convinces him and the reader that Gatsby held steadfast at the end of the novel, it was the foal dust and corruption of his dreams that lead him to his tragic end. THis paper received an a- at stanford university, in 20th century american literature