The various references to literature in “The Great Gatsby” include allusions to The Bible. By portraying Jay Gatsby as a Christ figure, F. Scott Fitzgerald highlights his role as both a father and a son, his acts of generosity and leadership, and his symbolic death. Gatsby serves as his own inspiration, taking on the role of a father figure after his encounter with Dan Cody. As described by Nick Carraway, Gatsby is “A Son of God – a phrase which, if it means anything, means exactly that – and he must be about his father’s business.” (Fitzgerald 109)
This quote from Earle highlights the idea that Gatsby’s personal ambitions align with a higher power’s will. When Nick first sees Gatsby, his movements are described as leisurely, as if he is determining his share of the local heavens. This suggests that Nick believes Gatsby deserves recognition in God’s eyes and a place in heaven. Furthermore, Fitzgerald’s choice to keep Gatsby’s birth a mystery parallels the enigma surrounding Jesus’s youth.
Until later in the novel, the mystery of Gatsby’s youth parallels Jesus’s obscured youth in the Bible (Christensen 154). Like Jesus, Gatsby’s self-made path and enigmatic nature resemble each other. Furthermore, Gatsby’s interactions with others are reminiscent of Jesus’s interactions with people in the Bible. One notable example is Gatsby’s extravagant parties, which provoke discussions similar to the miracles performed by Jesus.
In the first party that Nick attends, he unknowingly talks about his host, Gatsby, with Gatsby in the garden. This passage mirrors the story of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the Bible after the resurrection of Jesus (Earle). Another example of Gatsby being compared to Jesus is when it is considered that Gatsby acts like Christ when he feeds the strangers at his parties. This act is much like when Jesus feeds a thousand in the Book of John (Christensen 156). Furthermore, Gatsby is seen as a Christ figure when Nick begins to spend more time with him.
Nick displays similarities to the disciples of Jesus when he begins to acquire new knowledge from Gatsby. Moreover, Nick truly embodies Gatsby as a figure resembling Christ when it becomes evident to readers that Nick serves as Gatsby’s messenger by writing his tale (Dilworth 120). Ultimately, Gatsby’s demise bears resemblance to Jesus’s death in several ways. Initially, Gatsby encounters difficulties with his water mattress akin to Jesus struggling with carrying his cross up the hill. The significance of the mattress symbolizing a cross is profound as it signifies the weight of forthcoming events in both “The Great Gatsby” and The Bible (Christensen 154).
Following Gatsby’s shooting by Wilson in the pool, a crimson circle of blood emerged in the water, symbolizing the blood and water that streamed from Jesus upon being pierced by a spear (Dilworth 119). This association suggests that Gatsby’s demise held meaning, releasing Daisy from her responsibility for Myrtle Wilson’s death. This correlation can be likened to Jesus sacrificing himself for the sins of humanity in The Bible. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents Gatsby as a Christ-like character.
Despite objections, there are those who believe Jay Gatsby can be likened to Christ, despite his immorality, disregard for the Commandments, and failure to sacrifice himself for others’ sins. Throughout the story, Gatsby’s materialistic tendencies are evident as he continuously tries to impress Daisy with his possessions. For instance, he proudly displays his collection of shirts to Daisy and Nick, always bringing a radiant expression to Daisy’s face (Earle). Moreover, some argue that Gatsby is guilty of coveting his neighbor’s wife by pursuing married Daisy.
This text suggests that Gatsby’s actions are not in line with Christian values, making him appear unholy (Earle). Furthermore, it implies that Daisy is not absolved of her wrongdoing by Gatsby’s death; she will carry the guilt with her forever (Earle). However, these perspectives do not diminish the similarities between Gatsby and Jesus. Despite his immense wealth, Gatsby only utilized it to impress Daisy. He graciously hosted weekend gatherings but received nothing more than the presence of his guests in return.
Gatsby holds a strong belief that Daisy, the married woman he is pursuing, never genuinely loved her husband Tom. He is convinced that she should be with him because she had feelings for him in the past. Gatsby firmly believes that Daisy has always been his and therefore it is reasonable for him to reclaim her affections. Eventually, Daisy must face the truth that her actions led to someone’s death. However, without Gatsby’s downfall, she would have faced a miserable life in prison. This demonstrates how Gatsby saved her from a miserable existence on Earth.
Despite potential differences between Jesus and Gatsby, it is undeniable that Gatsby ultimately represents Jesus Christ. The author uses Gatsby, Nick, and Daisy as characters who reference biblical themes. Through these references, Fitzgerald constructs a figure of Christ in Gatsby. By drawing comparisons to the Bible’s portrayal of the Father and Son, acts of charity, and a symbolic death, Fitzgerald effectively presents Gatsby as a figure resembling Christ.
