F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote “The Great Gatsby” in 1926, but he set it in the summer of 1922, or as he called it, the Jazz Age. Through the way Gatsby is perceived, we can see Fitzgerald's ideas about the American dream and the effects it has on those who pursue it. I chose this question because it strongly relates to how my view of Gatsby changes as the novel progresses. Fitzgerald achieves this shift in feelings through his writing style, the theme of the novel, and his use of narration. My first feelings for Gatsby were ambivalent. He is dishonest and superficial. This superficiality can be demonstrated in the dream he has of a perfect life with money, Daisy and no worries in the world. However, his dream reveals how determined and stubborn he is, as he will never stop pursuing him. What really changed my opinion of Gatsby was the act of chivalry he performed in accepting responsibility for Myrtle's death. To me, this is the height of admiration for Gatsby because, ultimately, he gave his own life for Daisy's. One of the ways Fitzgerald achieves this gradual change in opinion is through his use or narration. By using Nick Carraway as a reliable reporter of events, Fitzgerald creates an honest and truthful narrator for readers. Nick himself says: “I'm one of the few honest people I've ever known. » Through this we can see Nick's true opinion of Gatsby and as his perspective has changed, my admiration has grown along with his. Nick originally states in the first chapter that Gatsby represents everything he has, "unaffected contempt", planting the seed for what grew my opinion of Gatsby. I saw little admiration for the so-called “Great Gatsby”, with a somewhat negative view of the man. However, a few lines later, Nick... middle of paper ... on a glimmer of hope that would never come true. And as he learns to accept that his dreams are corrupt, I saw another side of Gatsby that Fitzgerald had covered up with the American dream, a vulnerable, exposed hole in Gatsby's life that should have been filled many dreams, more love. and real meaning. My admiration for Gatsby grew at this point due to the fact that he accepted his mistake while taking responsibility for Myrtle's death. Overall, Fitzgerald originally creates a shallow, superficial character that I had little respect for. Through the progression of the novel, its use of narration, the theme of the corrupted American dream, and its writing style, a deeper and more admirable character develops. Gatsby died an admirable man and F. Scott Fitzgerald creates a growth of admiration wonderfully through his novel "The Great Gatsby"..”