p. 97-108
In this next section, the reader learns of Gatsby's choice to change his name. The story behind the change begins, however, with the day on which he changed it from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby. "It was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach that afternoon...but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a rowboat...." (Fitzgerald, 98). Therefore, the reader has a hard time discerning the reasoning behind the name change. Did James Gatz have a rough childhood that he wished not to identify himself with? We do not know because F. Scott Fitzgerald does not give enough information about Gatz' childhood to be able to draw such a conclusion; however, from what was given, I have not picked up on any bad vibes. Nonetheless, the book does say that Gatsby changed his name "at the age of seventeen and at the specific moment that witnessed the beginning of his career" (Fitzgerald, 98). Therefore, the name change was indeed a significant milestone in Gatsby's life that may or may not have played a role in his success as an adult. I guess I will have to continue my reading of The Great Gatsby to look for more clues and make a decision myself!
No comments:
Post a Comment