Jay Gatsby Transformation

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“Human beings have an inalienable right to invent themselves” (Germain Greer). This quote is basically saying that humans have the right to change. Jay Gatsby, a superficial character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a great example of how humans invent themselves. As a child he knew who he had to be to get what he wanted, so he spent his life becoming that person. Through the way Gatsby became rich, Fitzgerald implies his agreement that humans have the right to invent themselves.
Gatsby tried to reinvent himself to prove he was a wealthy man. Since Gatsby was a little boy he knew he wanted to be rich. His parents did not have the same mindset as him so knew he needed to leave that lifestyle and create a new one. He probably …show more content…
Jay Gatsby was described as, “a son of God-a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that-and he must be about His Father’s business, the service of vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty” (Fitzgerald 98). Nick in this quote isn't referring to God or Gatsby biological father but he means his father figure, Dan Cody. Gatsby is introduced to greed and wants to follow Cody’s path into the rich and wealthy world. Gatsby, “was still searching for something to do on that day Dan Cody’s yacht dropped anchor in the shallows alongshore” (Fitzgerald 105). When Cody shows up and sees Gatsby and asks him if he wants to make money, he accepts. This shows where gatsby got his drive and ambition from. INTEGRATE “I remember the portrait of him up in Gatsby’s bedroom, a grey, florid man with a empty hard face” (Fitzgerald 100). Gatsby and Cody were not just coworkers but they were also best friends. The picture in the room shows he'll never forget who made him a rich man. Cody taught Gatsby how to become a rich man.
Clearly, F. Scott Fitzgerald would agree with J. K. Rowling: Humans have an inalienable right to invent themselves. Jay Gatsby has the right to invent himself but his choices reveal the core of his character: A thief and a gangster. He decides to reinvent himself, leaving his past behind. His choices defined him. Throughout everyone's life we like to reinvent ourselves. When were little kids we either thought about being a dancer, detective, firefighter, or a
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