Conflict

Fitzgerald uses a combination of internal and external conflict in The Great Gatsby to portray his theme. Nick, the narrator, experiences internal conflict against himself and his opinions of the people of this rich society. His brutally honest opinions of society's finest caused an external conflict between him and the wealthy and him and society, who praised the rich and their living style. One example of Nick's external conflicts, "man versus man", is when he saw Tom after Gatsby's death; ""What's the matter, Nick? Do you object to shaking hands with me?" "Yes. You know what I think of you." "You're crazy, Nick," he said quickly. "Crazy as hell. I don't know what's the matter with you."" (Fitzgerald 178). The internal conflict Nick had as an ongoing result of his association with the rich people led to his final judgement, which obviously led to an external conflict, as depicted above. Nick, through his negligence of the wealthy, also defies their lifestyle and role in society, that they shouldn't be worshiped and seen for more than they are--corrupt and dishonest, living under the facade of society.

Gatsby had mostly internal conflicts with his past and his love for Daisy, but he also had external conflicts against fate and Tom. Gatsby continually battles his past and the affect it had on his fate throughout the entire book and Gatsby also fights with Tom to see who would win the heart of Daisy, as described by Fitzgerald; ""You're wife doesn't love you," said Gatsby. "She's never loved you. She loves me." "You must be crazy!" exclaimed Tom automatically." (Fitzgerald 130).

Tom, more of a shallow, flat character has external fights with Gatsby, Myrtle, Nick, and Daisy. He is a confrontational character who pulls together the conflict of all the characters but his lack of emotional expression allows him to have very little to no internal conflicts. Tom relies on his physique to aid him in his external conflicts, as well as his gruff, aggressive attitude.

Overall, the conflict in the Great Gatsby includes a wide variety of internal and external conflict, ranging from man versus man, man versus fate, man versus society, and man versus self to create a dynamic plot.