Examples Of Who Is To Blame For Gatsby's Death

Sophie Heimings: Who to blame for Gatsby’s death?

“Who to blame for the tragic ending of The Great Gatsby? Is it solely Gatsby himself, or are there other factors at play?”. The Great Gatsby, is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgeald, that dives into the era of the Roaring twenties and tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a man who rises from poverty to great wealth in pursuit of the American Dream. Gatsby is a self-made millionaire who throws extravagant parties to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. However the story ends tragically with Gatsby’s death, leaving readers to ponder the question of who or what is to blame for his downfall. Even though George Wilson pulled the trigger, Gatsby certainly bears some responsibility, but in my opinion

Gatsby’s extravagant parties and lifestyle reflected the recklessness of the wealthy society he belonged to. In the novel, Gatsby throws lavish parties with no expense spared, and his guests engage in excessive drinking and reckless behavior. “People were not invited - they went there”. (Fitzgerald 52) Gatsby’s parties and lifestyle are indicative of the reckless behavior that characterizes the wealthy society he is part of. This behavior eventually leads to his downfall. The wealthy society's emphasis on materialism and social status contributed to Gatsby’s death. Gatsby’s obsession with wealth and status is highlighted throughout the novel. “He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy.” (Fitzgerald 144) His obsession with wealth and status is a result of the values and priorities of the wealthy society Gatsby belongs to, this obsession led to his tragic death. But not only society played a part in Gatsby's death, also the concept of the American Dream played a role, which is explained in further detail in the next

George Wilson’s actions and decisions ultimately led to Gatsby’s death. Wilson is the one who pulls the trigger and kills Gatsby, believing he is responsible for the death of his wife. "’I spoke to her,’he muttered, after a long silence. ‘I told her she might fool me but she couldn't fool God. I took her to the window’ - with an effort he got up and walked to the rear window and leaned with his face pressed against it - "and I said 'God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me, but you can't fool God!'" (Fitzgerald 208) Wilson’s decision to take matters into his own hands and seek revenge ultimately leads to Gatsby’s tragic death. Some argue that this makes only him responsible for what happened. Wilson’s actions are motivated by his own personal reasons and not influenced by the societal factors that are present throughout the novel. Wilson's motivations for killing Gatsby are personal, as he believes that Gatsby was responsible for the death of his wife. “He had discovered that Myrtle had some sort of life apart from him in another world, and the shock had made him physically sick.” (Fitzgerald 161) His actions are motivated by his personal beliefs and desires, rather than any external societal factors. This suggests that he is solely responsible for Gatsby’s death.While it is true that Wilson’s actions