Why Is Jay Important In The Great Gatsby

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The Great Gatsby is a book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a mysterious young millionaire Jay Gatsby, living in a fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the middle of summer in 1922, and his obsession for the beautiful former debutante Daisy Buchanan. His love for her starts out for her before he became a soldier. He did pretty well in the army and was a commander of the 3rd battalion of machine guns. After the war he mistakenly was sent to Oxford where he remained for some time. He tried to get out but he was waiting for his last pay. It was too late when he got back, as Daisy had married Tom Buchanan in his absence. Gatsby became a millionaire from alcohol bootlegging. He is known throughout Long Island and New York because of his parties. The theme and setting of the story is New York in the middle of 1920s when World War II was just over. Many who had been…show more content…
Even though Gatsby was the main character, he only appeared in a speaking role in the third chapter. Fitzgerald uses this technique of delaying the character in the book to emphasize the theatrical quality of Gatsby’s approach to life, which is an important part of his personality. The other main character, Nick Carraway, is rather the opposite of Gatsby. If Gatsby was the rich ostentatious character who pursued and glorified wealth for the women he loved, then Mr. Carraway is a quiet Mid-Westerner who is a misfit in the East. Daisy Buchanan, Gatsby’s love, is a rich beautiful who was in love with Gatsby and is Nick’s cousin. She used to be very popular among military officers stationed near her home, including Jay Gatsby. Nick Carraway, even though a close cousin, characterizes her as someone who wrecks and messes things up, only to retreat behind her money for protection
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