Compassion & Forgiveness in The Great Gatsby

The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again. Compassion & Forgiveness

Ø Characters possess an infinite capacity to forgive.

Ø Characters possess an infinite stubbornness not to forgive. Compassion & Forgiveness

Ø Example: Daisy’s marriage vs. her love Compassion & Forgiveness

Ø Examples: Tom’s cheating vs. Gatsby’s deceit Compassion & Forgiveness

Ø Cause of much sadness in the novel Ø Characters taunted by the possibility of forgiveness only to lose out to another’s stubbornness. THESIS

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author illustrates the power of forgiveness to heal when offered and to destroy when denied. Question #1

What gets forgiven and what does not get forgiven in this novel? Why?

Characters offer a limited forgiveness for actions. The limit to forgiveness occurs when perception fails to match reality. Evidence #1

Characters offer a limited forgiveness for actions. The limit to forgiveness occurs when perception fails to match reality.

Gatsby began “denying everything, defending his name” but Daisy drew “further and further into herself.” Gatsby’s dream died but “fought on... struggling toward that lost voice,” the Daisy of his past. Question #2

Nick claims in the first page of the novel that he was told to never criticize. Is he compassionate towards Gatsby, or does he judge the man? Does this evolve over the course of the novel?

In the beginning of the novel, Nick judges Gatsby harshly; however, his feelings evolve to include an enormous measure of compassion for Gatsby. Evidence #2

In the beginning of the novel, Nick judges Gatsby harshly; however, his feelings evolve to include an enormous measure of compassion for Gatsby.

At Gatsby’s funeral, Nick is determined to “get somebody for him.” He feels distressed that no mourners plan to attend Gatsby’s funeral.