In The Great Gatsby, the character of Jay Gatsby ignores this fundamental rule of human existence, choosing to live in a world of the past, created by his own memories, and avoid the changes of the present even as they cause his own demise. ... Creating an empire for himself, a name, and status in order to be in the position now that he wished to have been those many years ago; ready to take Daisy in marriage and provide for her every need. ... When Gatsby is finally able to make his dream a reality, it falls short of his expectations and all of his planning and the fantasy of his relations...

• Word Count: 1189
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate