The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a 1925 novel about complex characters and their intricate relationships. Both the characters and their relationships are central focuses in the purpose of the book; however, those focuses can be understood differently in terms of the unique values of Eastern and Western cultures. An understanding of the text can change drastically based on those interpretations.
Jay Gatsby is a prime example of a character that is subject to diverging interpretations. Gatsby’s significance in the text makes a reader’s analysis of him incredibly important to understanding the text. A central theme is observed in his character: “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone...remember that all the people in this world haven’t …show more content…
To readers within this perspective, Gatsby might be interpreted as taking a far too selfish approach to his revealed purpose in hosting parties. The narrator describes those parties on pages 39-41, and there is abundant evidence of frivolous, high-class spending. Full orchestras attend, and the setup and cleanup crews require a whole weekend to complete their tasks. To the reader, Gatsby represents some measure of corrupted delusion; he ignores propriety and interpersonal consideration to forward his own goals. This is evident in the way he treats Nick throughout the novel. He had initially invited Nick to his parties for his own personal gain. Though Gatsby’s purpose may be sympathetic, the rewards of his ignorance are unfavorable for him. A reader who is interpreting Gatsby accounts for the interpersonal and contextual elements that are often valued by Eastern cultures. Nick’s sympathy towards Gatsby--and sometimes lack of it--might relate to Nick’s understanding that young Gatsby was forced to find his own place in the world in an environment that was not enriching for widespread standards, for example his work as a teenager and association with Dan Cody (Fitzgerald 99). The ultimate source of his failures was this unfortunate beginning, which was provided by those poor early conditions of lonely labor and a questionable mentor. The reader then draws from Gatsby a theme for the novel: that it is important to understand the context of a person, not just their current