Lauren Becker

Literary Criticism

Mr. Jennings

2/13/2013

Criticism on “the Passion of Gatsby: Evocation of Jesus in Fitzgerald’s THE GREAT GATSBY

In “The Passion of Gatsby: Evocation of Jesus in Fitzgerald’s THE GREAT GATSBY,” Thomas Dilworth Claims that Jay Gatsby was similar to Jesus Christ. Going by his evidence, that claim seems very reasonable. In paraphrasing Dilworth’s words, Gatsby carries his air mattress on his shoulder, and he dies for daisy to save her just like Jesus Christ shouldered his cross while he carried it and Jesus died to save his people. It’s even more so apparent when you realize Jesus kept his vigil in the garden of Gethsemane so his disciples could sleep, much like when Nick left Gatsby in the garden at Tom’s house in order to go to sleep. It can also be seen, in several of the gospels, how this story correlates. All in all Gatsby directly relates to Jesus Christ.

One of Dilworth’s main examples for comparison of the novel to the New Testament is that when Gatsby is in the pool when George kills him, it’s very similar to the crucifixion of Jesus. Dilworth uses the example of when Gatsby “shouldered” his air mattress to carry it, and when he was asked if he needed help, by his chauffeur, he “shook his head” (128). This compares to when Jesus was carrying his cross and Simon of Nazarene offered to help him (Matthew 27.32). Dilworth also points out that this comparison is valid in the scene after Gatsby was shot and his blood mixed with the water of his pool making a, “thin red circle in the water” (129). This can parallel with the blood and water mixture that poured out from Jesus’ side after he was cut with a spear (John 19.34). There is also more evidence that this parallel is true in the sense that Gatsby died in a place away from the people who truly cared about him, just like Jesus. For example, when Gatsby’s servants all heard the gunshots but they didn’t do anything until Nick arrived at Gatsby’s house, Nick says, “I drove from the station directly to Gatsby’s house and my rushing anxiously up the front steps was the first thing that alarmed anyone. But they knew the, I firmly believe” (161). Gatsby died on his air mattress with only the company of his suicidal killer, very similar to the way Jesus Christ passed away. According the the bible, Jesus died on a cross, in pain, and in the company of those who made fun of him. For example, “quickly one of them ran and got a sponge and filled it with vinegar and tied it to a stick to give it to Jeus to drink. But the others said, ‘Don’t bother him. We want to see if Elijah will come to save him.’ But Jesus cried out in a loud voice again and died” (Matthew 27, 48-50). When Jesus died, just like Gatsby, he was around people who didn’t love him, or care about him enough to check on them.

Dilworth also brings up the point that when Gatsby was in the Buchanan’s garden, it was very similar to when Jesus was in the garden of Gethemane. When Gatsby has been there for awhile nick leaves him in order to go to sleep. For example, when Nick, “le[aves] him standing there ...... watching over nothing” (116). This is very similar to when Jesus’ disciples left him to go to sleep in the garden of Gethemene because they both have in common that they were supposed to be watching something. For example, “you could not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26, 38-39). There is more evidence that these two events are similar. For example, Jesus and Gatsby also have in common that they were left alone the night before their death. For example, in a conversation between Nick and Gatsby,

“’Is it all quiet up there?’ he asked anxiously.

‘Yes it’s all quiet.’ I hesitated. ‘You’d better come home and get some sleep.’

He shook his head.

‘I want to wait here until Daisy goes to bed. Good night old sport.’” (145).

Gatsby was left alone by Nick so Nick could go to sleep, just like when Jesus was left alone in the Garden of Gethemene. Jesus went to the garden of Gethemene the night before he died to pray with his disciples. For example, “After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed ...... then Jesus went back to his followers and found them asleep.” (Matthew 26, 39-40). Jesus repeated this action three twice more and each time his disciples went to sleep and left him alone. This also happened to be the night before his death, and it was the same as Gatsby’s death.

Dilworth also brings up the point that Gatsby died because of something that his lover did, much like how Jesus died for the sins of his people. First of all Gatsby took the blame for Daisy’s crime. For example, when Nick is talking to him about who was driving the car, the truth is it was daisy, and Gatsby says, “Yes, ...... but of course I’ll say I was” (114). Gatsby even says out loud that he will completely cover for Daisy’s crime, much like when Jesus Christ says he will die for his people and thus take away all of their sins. Throughout the Bible there are multiple verses stating that Jesus died for our sins. For instance, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4,10). Another thing that Gatsby and Jesus have in common is that they were both killed wrongly, but they accepted that fact because they were dying in the place of those they loved. For example, before Nick had gotten to Gatsby’s house, there wasn’t much commotion going on, except the gunshots that didn’t startle anyone. For instance, “ The chauffeur – he was one of Wolfheim’sprotégés – heard the shots – afterward he could only say that he hadn’t thought anything much about them ” (161). So Gatsby accepted the fact that he was going to die by the time George Wilson found him because there wasn’t much commotion to show any resistance to his killing otherwise. Jesus was crucified and surrounded by people who mocked him, when he died. He was in a lot of pain and before it ever happened he knew that’s how it was going to be, but he did it because he knew he was dying for his people. For example, “Then Jesus cried in a loud voice and died” (Mark 15,20). Jesus was tormented, beaten, and mocked, all of his life, but , like Gatsby, he died for the people he loved anyway. Lastly, in comparison, Gatsby and Jesus both loved people who did terrible things, but that didn’t taint their view of those people. For instance, Gatsby witnessed his long lost lover commit a horrific crime, but he still made sure she was alright and looked after her. For example, when Gatsby says, “I’m just going to wait here and see if he tries to bother her about that unpleasantness this afternoon...... if he tries any brutality she’s going to turn the light out and on again” (144). Gatsby was still taking care of the one he loved even though she committed a terrible crime, much like Jesus, who went through beating after beating, and only because he people had sinned, yet he was still going to take all of their sins away. For example, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2, 24). Jesus’ job was to come to earth, bless us with his miracles, show us the way, and die for us. He went through many struggles, but nothing stopped him, even though his people let him down, like Daisy let Gatsby down.

All in all, these two people are very much alike. They have lived in completely different times and have had totally different lives, but that doesn’t seem to matter. Though in some cases these stories are very different, the main points show that they do have extreme correlation. In several ways, they seem to mirror one another, as Dilworth brought up, and I believe he is right.

Works Cited

Dilworth, Thomas. “The Passion of Gatsby: Evocation of Jesus in Fitzgerald’s THE GREAT GATSBY.”Routledgena, 2010: 119-121. Web.

Fitzgerald, Scott F. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner and Sons, 2010

The RevolveDevotional Bible. Na. Texas: Thomas Nelson Inc., 2006. Print