A Comparison of Jay Gatsby and Charlie Wales - Classweb

Anonymous / “Impractical Lives” 4
Both Gatsby and Charlie find that their pasts come back to hurt them. All the
rumors about Gatsby being a bootlegger, a gambler, having killed a man, and working
Wolfsheim remain mysteries to almost everyone in the story, and another such “rumor”
gets him killed in the end. Because Tom despises Gatsby and thinks he is such a
criminal, he tells George Wilson who he thinks was driving the car that killed Myrtle—
and thus he frames Gatsby. In the end, Mr. Wilson holds Gatsby responsible for Mrytle’s
death, and murders him. Likewise, Charlie’s past as a spendthrift and alcoholic does not
help determine Marion’s decision, for she holds Charlie responsible for Helen’s death
and keeps custody over Honoria.
Gatsby and Charlie both wish they could live in the past. Gatsby and Charlie are
left with huge disappointments, because they expected to gain love, money and their
pasts so easily. Neither can accept the changes in his life. Gatsby and Charlie did not
consider the practicalities of what they wanted, and focused only on what they envisioned
would recreate the past, and recreate their happiness.