Theme Of Power In The Great Gatsby

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English 11 November 8, 2011 The Great Gatsby Having power is addicting and learning to control it is a crucial part in someone’s life, but if one person is incapable of handling the proper usage it may/could end a person’s life. Francis Scott Fitzgerald published the novel The Great Gatsby in 1953. The novel is set in America during the 1920’s. During this time America had a great economy from money earned from Germany after ww1. Some of the characters in this novel served in the war. When Nick Carroway, the narrator, witnesses the multitude of extravagant additions to Jay Gatsby’s party, Nick contemplates how Gatsby is able to afford all the expenses from this huge party. While Nick is at the party he hears rumors about Gatsby. After…show more content…
“Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once” A thrill passes over all of us. The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly, ‘ I don’t think it’s so much that” argued Lucille skeptically, “it’s more that he was a German spy during the war (Fitzgerald 44). Now that we know he was a German spy we know for sure that he has some sort of power and respect. As bad as some of the people at the party are making it sound I think people knowing he was a German spy will give him a little more respect. The Author uses big and meaningful words to emphasize a quote that tells you this quote is somehow or another meaningful. Gatsby had more power since he was a German spy and it frightened people. “I see you’re looking at my cuff buttons”. I hadn’t been looking at then, but I did now. They were composed of oddly familiar pieces of irony. “Finest specimens of human molars (Fitzgerald 72)’. After being defriended by Nick, Gatsby meets Meyer Wolfsheim. Meyer Wolfsheim has an intimidating look to him, dark eyes, dressed scary and all his cuff buttons are made of human molars. Through Meyer Gatsby can get any of his desires. Since Gatsby can get any of his desires he has power because he won’t have problems with anything and pretty much do whatever he wants to do. With Meyer Gatsby shows great…show more content…
With all those attributes Gatsby can pretty much get whatever he wants and he just ignores stuff he don’t want to hear like the rumors and miscellaneous stuff going around. I don’t think Gatsby was very responsible with the great power he had because at the end of the book people died, moved and were unhappy when he could’ve solved it. It’s too bad that some people can’t handle the power they get and a lot of people don’t understand that with great power comes great

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