In F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic, The Great Gatsby, the central character, Jay Gatsby, is a paradox. In one sense, his rise to material success constitutes a remarkable accomplishment. Seen from another angle, however, it's not great at all, but a massive failure. His goal of winning Daisy is never achieved and he amassed his fortune through very dubious means. Yet the term “big” is open to interpretation. Gatsby is certainly great in his ability to conjure up stories and an image of himself. His masterful ability to present himself to the world in a new light is similar to that of the one and only Great Houdini and other artists of the past and present. But Gatsby's greatness, like a stage performance, is only apparent and hides a deeper sense of failure. Nick notices Gatsby's determination and respects it; Nick really thinks Gatsby is great. Analyzing Gatsby's character, Nick notes his exceptional charisma and ability to connect with his audience: He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal assurance, that one might encounter four or five times in life . He faced, or seemed to face, for a moment, the entire outside world, then focused on you with an overwhelming bias in your favor. He understood you as much as you wanted to be understood, he believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself. (Fitzgerald 53) Nick thinks he is extraordinary for many reasons such as his incredible charm and how Gatsby completely changed himself and his lifestyle in order to achieve his goal of "winning" Daisy. Once he set a goal, he did everything in his power to achieve it. He even went so far as to make a study of manners and express...... middle of paper ......g anyone or maintain a relationship rooted in affection and l 'commitment. Much like Gatsby's fortune, the idea of ​​"Daisy" and her identity through Gatsby's eyes is built on an illusion. Both are built on lost values ​​and embodied by the crumbling moral landscape of 1920s America. Gatsby is only excellent at creating false ideas and beliefs. In fact, his ability to alter images and perceptions is so great that not only does he deceive large numbers of partygoers, he even deceives himself. He is so immersed and preoccupied with creating illusions and distorting reality that he loses sight of things as they actually exist. However, an illusion is just that: a false impression, an illusion, a fantasy. Ultimately, Gatsby proves himself to be most masterful in the art of self-deception. Works Cited Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004.