Nature of Man- Great Gatsby Essay

Today, we would define ‘man’ as representing the human race. What is human nature? Human nature refers to the patterns of behavior typical to that of mankind. Every man has both good and evil in him. Sometimes the good may take control or sometimes the evil can get the best of a person. One usually has many traits that make one a man, things like being respectful, loving, and selfish are among the many things that it is in man’s nature to be. Selfishness is defined merely as “concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others” (Merriam Webster). Most people assume that selfishness is both wrong and unhealthy. A selfish person tends to put one’s own needs before the needs of others. The needs of one are just as important as the needs of others. One has to be able to draw a line between being too selfish and just trying to have a better life. Being selfish requires caring only about what one wants and not what the rest of society strives for as a whole. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it is evident through the characters that it is in man’s nature to be selfish through the act of cruelty, greed, and manipulating others to achieve a goal. It is in man’s nature to be selfish; this is shown through the act of cruelty. Cruelty is shown in the novel when Nick is speaking about Tom’s behaviour. “Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward … It was a body capable of enormous leverage — a cruel body” (Fitzgerald, 9). This quote shows how Tom Buchanan has changed over time. When Nick knew Tom in college years he was very friendly and wonderful to be around. Nick now realizes that Tom’s characteristics have changed from nice and friendly to cruel and abusive. Tom’s character represents the selfishness, arrogance, and cleverness in people of society. Another example of Tom’s

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