Have you ever been in a situation where you have almost achieved your goal, but something is stopping you from fully realizing it? Jay Gatsby, one of the protagonists of the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, loses the love of his life, Daisy, due to years of separation and is trying to win her back. Daisy's husband Tom, however, won't let her go so easily. Gatsby fights to win back the lover he has waited for for so many years. Before Gatsby's risky quest, his main goal in life is to obtain great wealth to impress the beautiful Daisy. Just think about Daisy and their life together. He will do anything to reunite, regardless of the consequences. Jay's dark side is revealed and the Soul is present throughout his journey. Gatsby appears to be a selfless, benevolent, and majestic young man. Upon careful examination, it is revealed that he is malicious and selfish because he wants Daisy for himself and is willing to ruin a family for her. But his soul shows how thoughtful, romantic and vulnerable he truly is through his devotion and passion for Daisy. Gatsby fails to complete the traditional hero's journey, but creates his own unique version of the archetype. In this unorthodox interpretation, Gatsby learns the repercussions of desiring what one cannot have and dishonesty in the course of his battle for his mistress. The enigmatic Jay Gatsby is an unconventional hero. Despite this, Jay has characteristics that follow the archetype. In congruence with the Hero's Journey archetype, Gatsby's origin is mysterious. Even his closest friends don't know about his questionable past. He definitely has imperfections, but he's no fool. He experiences an internal call to adventure, ... middle of paper ... a magnificently wealthy young man for years, only to be shocked that he is an impostor. Furthermore, Nick is tricked into thinking that the East is a magical place where everyone's dreams come true. He is disturbed when he discovers that the East is the exact opposite. If you judge something solely by its appearance, you will eventually be in for a rude awakening. Works Cited Coughlin, Kathleen. “Hero's Journey Archetype: Protagonists, or Hero Types.” Course handout. AS English I. English Department, Woodside High School. October 22, 2013. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2013. Print."The Great Gatsby." SparkNote. SparkNotes and Web. December 15, 2013. "The Hero's Journey." Ariane Publications, 1997. Course handout. AS English I. English Department, Woodside High School. October 26 2013.