James Gatz dreamt of wealth and fortune from the beginning, because he was born into a poverty stricken family in North Dakota. He dropped out of St. Olaf College because he couldn’t stand being a janitor to pay his tuition. He always thought he could move east and become rich, which he did, but through all the wrong methods: organized crime, selling alcohol during prohibition, and other illegal activities. The main reason behind acquiring his riches and reinventing himself as Jay Gatsby was to impress the love of his life, Daisy, who wanted a man who could provide for her. Once he met Daisy he knew that he would do anything for her, but after he returned from the war and found that she had married Tom Buchanan, he devoted his life to getting Daisy back. His goal in life was simple, get Daisy to love him instead of Tom, and he made millions of dollars, bought a huge expensive mansion, and held great parties every week at his house to try to prove that he had what it took to accomplish his dream.

As more details are revealed about Gatsby through other character’s gossip and his own actions and words, we discover that he is a very hopeful man who works for his dreams, thinking that the dreams will become reality because he now has great material possessions. Gatsby’s hope eventually begins to falter, showing the corruption of his wealth which caused him to hold onto the dream way too long. He just had to accept that Daisy loved him at one time, but now that time is gone and she has married Tom Buchanan because he could provide for her, something Gatsby couldn’t do while he was gone. In the end, Gatsby dies defending the woman he dreamt about for so long, by saying that he drove the car that hit Myrtle. Finally sacrificing himself and his dream just to protect the woman he loved, Daisy.

- JRe