The 'Great' Gatsby

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Was Gatsby Great?

Yes
0
No votes
No
2
67%
It more complicated than that
1
33%
 
Total votes: 3

keithprosser2
Posts: 64
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The 'Great' Gatsby

Post by keithprosser2 »

F Scott Fitzgeral cropped up elsewhere, so I wondered if anybody here would like to comment on if Jay Gatsby was actually 'Great'. I know the novel is 'great', but is the man Gatsby 'great'?
Impenitent
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Re: The 'Great' Gatsby

Post by Impenitent »

define great

-Imp
PapersOwl
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Re: The 'Great' Gatsby

Post by PapersOwl »

Well, I haven't read the book but the movie didn't impressed me at all
Dalek Prime
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Re: The 'Great' Gatsby

Post by Dalek Prime »

Gatsby was a man full of envy, and generally a tosser. Isn't that great?
mickthinks
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Re: The 'Great' Gatsby

Post by mickthinks »

What interest should philosophers take in such a question? Gatsby has money, hence power and privilege. In that worldly sense he is great. He seems not to possess nor demonstrate any other outstanding traits or strengths. In that unworldly sense he is not great.

FSF intended the title to be ironic, I think.
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Hobbes' Choice
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Re: The 'Great' Gatsby

Post by Hobbes' Choice »

FSG was writing a cautionary take about the failure of the American Dream, and the pitfalls of greed. "Great" is obviously ironic.
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