The Great Gatsby (Blog 10)

By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

What is it about Mr. Jay Gatsby that
motivates people to make up so many
rumors about him?

Jay Gatsby seems to have a ton of rumors made up about him.  Early on in the novel, Nick was informed that Gatsby was rumored to be a murderer.  Another rumor about him was that he was a foreigner.  When chapter 6 opens, a newspaper reporter shows up at Gatsby's door to interview him.  Gatsby, caught off guard, has no clue why this man is at his home.  In my opinion, the most recent rumor about Gatsby sounds completely ridiculous.  "Contemporary legends such as the "underground pipe-line to Canada" attached themselves to him, and there was one persistent story that he didn't live in a house at all, but in a boat that looked like a house and was moved secretly up and down the Long Island shore" (Fitzgerald, 97).  I don't really understand what makes Gatsby so susceptible to rumors.  Is it because he doesn't try to defend himself when he learns of them?  Is it because he is shy and doesn't bother to bring attention to himself?  I don't really understand it, but I am curious to see if any of the rumors mentioned so far end up being true.  I also am wondering if Gatsby will build up enough courage to defend himself against all of these rumors.  Unlike many other wealthy people, I feel like Mr. Gatsby tries to remain more quiet.  Because he keeps to himself more than others, I think that people prefer to make up rumors about him since he probably won't defend himself.