Michael Tatten Ms. Marcucio American Literature 24 April 2023 In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, readers are left with many questions at the end, but the question that triumphs all other questions is, who is responsible for Jay Gatsby’s death? There are many characters that could be deemed responsible. Among those characters is Jay Gatsby. He is the main character in the novel. Some would argue that his obsessions in life, is what leads to his downfall. Another man that could be blamed is Tom Buchanon. Tom is an arrogant, old-fashioned man, who can make a lot of things go his way in life using his money and power. The man who shot Gatsby takes some blame as well. His name is George Wilson. Some could argue Daisy, …show more content…
Tom manipulated George Wilson into believing that it was Gatsby who killed Myrtle in the accident, while in reality, it was Daisy. “He ran over Myrtle like you’d run over a dog and never even stopped his car (Fitzgerald 136).” The excerpt above is what Tom told George Wilson, Gatsby did. He said Gatsby killed Myrtle. This obviously led to Wilson’s hatred for Gatsby. Tom also convinced George that it was Gatsby, having an affair with Myrtle, when in reality, it was really Tom. Tom told George that Gatsby was Myrtle's lover. “I told him the truth (Fitzgerald 136).” Tom told George that Gatsby was the one who was taking his wife from him. Wilson’s anger and hatred for Gatsby grew and Wilson killed Gatsby. All of this misinformation from Tom, got a man murdered. Tom didn’t pull the trigger, but many will argue he is the main cause. Not all the blame can go on Tom though, because he isn’t the one who pulled the …show more content…
Daisy is responsible because she leads Gatsby to believe there is a future between them. At Gatsby’s second party, Daisy is openly flirting with Gatsby in front of Tom. This is an example of Daisy leading Gatsby on. After Gatsby died, Daisy didn’t seem to care. She didn’t attend the funeral, send anything, or even talk to Nick. “There were careless people, Tom and Daisy, — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or vast carelessness… and let other people clean up the mess they had made (Fitzgerald 137).” This shows Daisy really didn’t care about Gatsby and is really just attracted to the lavish lifestyle she lives. She never deserved Gatsby, and could take some blame for his death. This argument deserves refuting because Daisy can’t control how Gatsby feels about her, therefore she probably should not be blamed for his
On the way home from the hotel, Daisy, driving Gatsby's car, hits Tom's mistress, Myrtle. Gatsby says he'll take the blame for the death of Myrtle, therefore Daisy doesn't have to be arrested. Tom finds out and tells George Wilson, the husband of Myrtle. Enraged with the death of his wife, George shoots Gatsby in the pool. In the next chapter, Tom tells Nick one day passing by, "'That fellow had it coming to him.
Although he is a contributor to his death, George Wilson and Daisy Buchanan are ultimately who led to his death. Jay Gatsby is a contributor to his own death because he makes bad decisions to get his dream. An example of a bad decision is when he purposely let Nick stay in his guesthouse and be his neighbor. All he was really doing was using Nick for his own personal gain.
Daisy’s whole character is about self-preservation and doing things that would benefit her. She chooses men who give her the most attention and is the wealthiest. She can’t handle trouble and leaves when things get too complicated for her to deal with. However, I do believe that Daisy should’ve taken the blame. Although it would have had a significant impact on her social status from riding in a car with only Mr. Gatsby and killing a woman, her punishment would’ve significantly kinder.
When George Wilson wanted revenge on who killed Myrtle he went to Tom to see who owned the yellow car and Tom told him Jay Gatsby owned the car. So Wilson went over to Gatsby’s house and shoot Gatsby and himself [Wilson] to have revenge on the murderer even though we find out Daisy was actually was driving that night. All because of Tom having an affair with Myrtle she was killed, then Gatsby, and then Wilson. Nick narrates that “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then treated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever kept them together,and let other people clean up the mess they had made ”(187-188). This is significant to the thesis statement because Tom and Daisy throughout the
Gatsby was taking advantage of Daisy and trying to make her tell Tom that she never loved him, but the truth is, she did love him. She told Gatsby that she loved him, and that she still does love Tom. Gatsby wasn’t the only one trying to manipulate someone else, Myrtle was just as guilty. Myrtle was trying to manipulate Tom since the day they began having an affair. Myrtle kept the affair with Tom going in attempt to get him not to leave her and go back to Daisy.
This shows that Daisy didn’t take the blame and even went further as to deny Gatsby’s love leaving him dead. This essentially shows that Daisy’s progression towards impurity left two people dead. Although Daisy killed two people she never had to face the consequences, thanks to her wealth. “It was full of money-that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it….High in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl…”
Three people are most at fault for the death of Gatsby, though, Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom. Although Gatsby and Daisy are partially responsible, Tom’s actions are the paramount reason for Gatsby’s death. Gatsby is at fault for his own death because of his quest for his dream at any cost. Gatsby puts himself in danger in order to achieve his dream. Towards the
In the end, Daisy Buchanan is most responsible for the death of Jay Gatsby due to her lies, indecisiveness, foolish mistakes, and her unfaithfulness. After Daisy kills Myrtle with the car, she does not tell anyone the truth about the incident. Instead, she allows Gatsby to take the blame for the accident. Daisy was not in the proper mindset to drive as she knew she wasn’t sober enough to safely drive the two of them home, but her frustration towards Tom and Gatsby overpowered her conscience. When Gatsby and Tom were disputing about Daisy’s love for them, she ends up expressing love for Gatsby and not for Tom, yet she stays with Tom in the end.
Who pulled the trigger? Who snitched the murderer? Who was a little too obsessed? But at the end of it all, who's to blame…? Many believe that Mr. Wilson would be the primary cause for Gatsby’s death since he pulled the trigger, but was he really?
Sam Vitale Mr. Forte English 11 1 March 2023 West Egg Betrayal In life, Betrayal is one of the worst feelings imaginable. You could make the argument that multiple people are responsible for Gatsby's death, but nonetheless he was betrayed. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tom is the character most responsible for Gatsby's death. This is because he sold him out, and his relationship with Myrtle led her to jump in front of the car.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the story exposes and describes the complexity, corruption, and lies of New York’s wealthiest, but fixated on one man, Jay Gatsby himself. The story revolves around many different and unique characters. One of these characters is the narrator, Nick Carraway. The main motivation for the story is about the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his pursuit of his old old love, Daisy Buchannan. In the end, Gatsby is murdered by George Wilson who thought Gatsby killed his wife Myrtle.
Even though other characters may have contributed, Gatsby is ultimately responsible for his own death because he wants to please Daisy, he is a liar, and he thinks he can repeat the past. The first reason Gatsby is responsible for his own death is because he did everything to please daisy. Gatsby bought his mansion and nice things to impress daisy. “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.”
Tom was the one to tell Mr. Wilson that it was Gatsby’s car that ran over Myrtle. This is seen, “I told him the truth,” he said” (178. 19). This is when Nick confronts Tom about Gatsby’s death and his suspicion that Tom was the culprit. Tom goes on, “What if I did tell him? That fellow had it coming to him” (178. 24-25).
Tom behavior effects everyone around him as a result if his selfish behavior two people die. Myrtle is murdered by his wife Daisy and Gatsby is murdered by George Myrtles husband. Both murders could have been avoided if Tom was more of a man and less than a scoundrel. Fitzgeralds describes Tom as a big, powerful man: " Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body-He seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top
She kills Myrtle and never takes responsibilities for her crime. Instead, she allows Gatsby to take the blame, leading Wilson to wrongfully murder him. Thus she is responsible for all the travesty around her. She is indirectly responsible for her lover Gatsby’s death, yet she still chooses a comfortable life with Tom instead. In the end, Nick shows that Daisy’s allure has repercussions.