illusion and reality in gatsby

In The Great Gatsby, the confusion between reality and illusion is prominent within the key characters; Fitzgerald portrays this confusion though Gatsby's obsession with Daisy, Nick's idealism, and Myrtle's dreams of success. Each of these characters possesses a flaw that causes their disillusion and their inevitable downfall. Gatsby's downfall begins with his love for Daisy. Knowing that he could not marry her because of her opposition to the difference in their social status, Gatsby was …

…quest for power. Myrtle lives in a fantasy world, which is held together by her dreams and her thirst for prestige; her flaw is her failure to observe the world and those around her. The Great Gatsby is a novel that is filled with dreamers and their flaws; Gatsby's hopelessness, Nick's idealism, and Myrtle's dream of success. Due to the poor judgement of the characters, these dreams became illusions and ultimately lead to their downfall.