The Heroic Journey of Jay Gatsby
Many stories base the Hero’s Journey around one character; those characters usually have one purpose and one journey. But what about Jay Gatsby? The question I ask is: Does man have only one journey? Or, does man have many? Jay Gatsby had two.
In the tales of “The Great Gatsby,” Jay Gatsby was the son of a poor farming family. During his teenage years, he enlisted in the United States Army and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant during the Great War. Through his travels as a soldier, he met Daisy; the love of his life. This has demonstrated Jay Gatsby’s separation. His calling, being the war, and his threshold, were he would meet Daisy. His descent is when he must leave Daisy and go to Europe for the war. Soon, upon Gatsby’s leaving, Daisy will marry Tom Bucanon.
When Gatsby leaves, he enters his abyss: Being gone for Five years of the war and not knowing if he will ever see Daisy again. Through his abyss, Gatsby acquires a mentor by the name of Dan Cody, who leaves him money to get an education. This will help lead to his success and wealth. Thus, leading to his initiation and transformation into the nouvelle riche.
Now we come to his creation. Frequently, Gatsby would hold lavish parties in attempt to gain the attention of Daisy. Soon, with the help of Nick Carroway (a cousin of Daisy’s), Gatsby reunites with Daisy. Falling madly in love, they start an affair. Starting his second journey, Gatsby tries to get daisy to leave Tom. He almost succeeds, but, is assassinated.
So it is true that man can have more than one journey in life. Even though he barely even started his second journey, Jay Gatsby is not only a hero, but a veteran as well.
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