Gatsby Is Not A Christ-Figure

The Great Gatsby is a novel written in the mid 1920’s by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man named Jay Gatsby, and his obsessive love with an old flame, Daisy Buchanan. Jay Gatsby is not a Christ-like figure. Gatsby lied, something Jesus didn't do. Jay Gatsby committed crimes, also something Jesus didn't do. He flaunted his wealth in front of Daisy, but Jesus Christ never boasted. Gatsby lied, which Jesus Christ did not do. “His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people- his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all. The truth was Jay Gatsby, of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself.” (Fitzgerald 104). This quote was said after Gatsby told Nick that he was born into wealth, this is clearly false. The quote uses syntax and metaphor. The syntax is seen in the word, “truth”. By saying truth after introducing the real story of Gatsby’s life, it shows that Nick know Gatsby has lied to him, and knows that he is ashamed of his parents. If one is ashamed by a part of his life, then there is a higher chance one would tell a lie to cover up the truth. The metaphor is seen in the word, “Platonic”. It compares the thoughts of Gatsby to a nonsexual but loving relationship. A Platonic relationship is a relationship where two people love each other, but in a nonsexual way. By saying this quote, it shows that Gatsby loved his new life to a very high extent. If someone loves their fake life to this extent, it would be obvious that they would lie about their true selves. This proves Gatsby lied. Jesus Christ did not tell lies. “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy” (Psalm 111:7). This quote uses synecdoche. By saying “his hands are...trustworthy”, the line is implying the hands of God, a part of the Holy Trinity that includes Jesus, are trustworthy. The hands of someone or some being are synecdoche for the person or being as a whole. Since His hands are considered trustworthy, God is also considered trustworthy. A trustworthy person never lies, therefore Christ is a person who never lies. These two quotes prove Gatsby lied, but Jesus didn't. Gatsby is not a Christ-like figure. Jesus Christ didn't commit any crimes, but Gatsby did. “I found out what your ‘drug stores’ were. He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him…” (Fitzgerald 141). In the 1920’s, prohibition began. This made buying, selling, or making alcohol illegal. This quote uses denotation and negative connotation. The denotation of bootlegger is someone who illegally sells alcohol, but the connotation makes it much worse. It means someone who is a criminal. A criminal is someone who commits crimes. Gatsby is a criminal. Jesus, however, did not a criminal. “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." (Luke 23: 41). This was made in reference to Jesus. The line uses denotation in the words, “done nothing wrong”. This would mean the person has not done anything that is unacceptable socially or morally, and carries the same positive connotation. Christ has done no evil. Evil includes crimes. This proves Jesus was innocent, but Gatsby committed crimes. Gatsby isn't like Jesus. Gatsby displayed his wealth to impress Daisy, but Christ never boast to impress anyone. "He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them one by one before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray. While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher – shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple green and lavender and faint orange with monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly with a strained sound Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily. “They’re such beautiful shirts,” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such beautiful shirts before.” (Fitzgerald 87). This quote uses imagery. The shirts are described to be extraordinarily beautiful. By throwing the gorgeous shirts, Gatsby is attempting to basically buy Daisy’s love. Throwing expensive shirts is being boastful. This proves Gatsby was a braggart. Christ, however, never bragged about his abilities. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9). This quote uses hyperbole to express Jesus losing everything to make his followers rich. There’s also metaphor. “Rich” and “poor” are comparing money to salvation and life. Salvation and life are something highly valued in Christianity. Salvation is being able to live and go to heaven by believing in Jesus Christ. Since Christ agreed to give up his life for his followers, it proves Jesus didn't show off. Thus, Gatsby was boastful, while Jesus was not. This furthermore proves Gatsby is nothing like Jesus Christ. The Great Gatsby’s main character, Jay Gatsby, is not a Christ-figure in the novel. He is a liar, but Jesus Christ never lied. Gatsby committed a crime, but Christ never committed any crime. Finally, Jay Gatsby showed off only to impress Daisy Buchanan.