An Annotated Critical Bibliography of the Great Gatsby Essay Example
An Annotated Critical Bibliography of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gastby
Pauly, Thomas H. Gatsby as Gangster. Studies in American Fiction, vol. 21 no.
2, 1993.
Thomas H. Pauly, after an evidently thorough examination of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, is convinced that Jay Gatsby, the mysterious figure upon whom the novel fixates, is a sinister character and a mastermind regarding illegal activities. Despite Gatsby’s charming attitude and contrary claims, Pauly believes that “Gastby is a businessman…whose business is crime—and this means whatever illegal enterprise comes to hand. Today he would be dealing in narcotics and selling arms to terrorists (46).” Throughout his essay, Pauly provides examples to promote the accuracy of his proposal.
One of the first examples that Pauly employs to support his claim is the phone call that Nick intercepts following Gatsby’s death. “Without ever confirming that he is speaking to Gatsby, the caller blurts out how his disposal of the stolen bonds has miscarried (46).” While this instance, of course, serves as proof that Gatsby was involved in illegalities, it in no way demonstrates his adequacy in the area of crime. Quite to the contrary, this event only impresses Gatsby’s ineptitude in criminal activities; his accomplices are unsuccessful in their unlawful endeavors.
Pauly further asserts his assumption by explaining that many readers, like Nick, the narrator, are under the impression that Gatsby gained his immense wealth by “facilitating a necessary liaison between the crude Wolfshiem and the proprieties of respectable society (48).” In the novel, Nick comes to the conclusion that Gatsby, with his charm and social status, is the leader in public relations for Wolfshiem’s operations. Pauly, however, insists that, in order to have achieved such wealth and social status, Gatsby “would have needed to be a more cunning criminal than Nick allows.” Pauly believes that Gatsby utilizes his amiable
Pauly, Thomas H. Gatsby as Gangster. Studies in American Fiction, vol. 21 no.
2, 1993.
Thomas H. Pauly, after an evidently thorough examination of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, is convinced that Jay Gatsby, the mysterious figure upon whom the novel fixates, is a sinister character and a mastermind regarding illegal activities. Despite Gatsby’s charming attitude and contrary claims, Pauly believes that “Gastby is a businessman…whose business is crime—and this means whatever illegal enterprise comes to hand. Today he would be dealing in narcotics and selling arms to terrorists (46).” Throughout his essay, Pauly provides examples to promote the accuracy of his proposal.
One of the first examples that Pauly employs to support his claim is the phone call that Nick intercepts following Gatsby’s death. “Without ever confirming that he is speaking to Gatsby, the caller blurts out how his disposal of the stolen bonds has miscarried (46).” While this instance, of course, serves as proof that Gatsby was involved in illegalities, it in no way demonstrates his adequacy in the area of crime. Quite to the contrary, this event only impresses Gatsby’s ineptitude in criminal activities; his accomplices are unsuccessful in their unlawful endeavors.
Pauly further asserts his assumption by explaining that many readers, like Nick, the narrator, are under the impression that Gatsby gained his immense wealth by “facilitating a necessary liaison between the crude Wolfshiem and the proprieties of respectable society (48).” In the novel, Nick comes to the conclusion that Gatsby, with his charm and social status, is the leader in public relations for Wolfshiem’s operations. Pauly, however, insists that, in order to have achieved such wealth and social status, Gatsby “would have needed to be a more cunning criminal than Nick allows.” Pauly believes that Gatsby utilizes his amiable