Philosophy Now Forum

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'?

define great

-Imp

Well, I haven't read the book but the movie didn't impressed me at all

Gatsby was a man full of envy, and generally a tosser. Isn't that great?

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.

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