That Awesome “Platonic

Conception” Jazz

Greek Philosopher, 427-327 BC Contemplated Perceptions of Reality

◦ Human Views of Reality vs. Forms

A Note on Plato

“Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic conception of himself”

A Highly Idealized Point of View◦ What Gatsby desired to become◦ “The sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old

boy would be likely to invent”◦ He remained “faithful to this conception” in his

actions throughout life.

A “Platonic Conception”

What he Didn’t Anticipate

• Wealth• Fame• Popularity

• Thus, the parties

Elements of Gatsby’s Conception

• Being Abandoned by Daisy• Being Seen as Classless

• Not everybody shares his romanticism