In the Great Gatsby, Wolfsheim symbolizes Gatsby’s shadowed gangster past and lifestyle: the illegal source of his great wealth, namely dealings in bootlegging and organized crime. Gatsby’s relationship with Meyer Wolfsheim is platonic, yet also founded upon business and money. For example, Mr Wolfsheim immediately assumes Nick is a man Gatsby has brought to him seeking a monetary opportunity. Furthermore, Gatsby leaves to take a telephone call, an action which friends at lunch do not usually do. He is polite yet almost indifferent, for example when Wolfsheim leaves under excuses of older age, and he does nothing to stop him. This causes the reader to experience and imagine the darker side of Gatsby, that which survived gang life and conquered it, and affirms the existence of it. The audience also understands that Gatsby is familiar with illegal practices, for example “He’s a gambler”. Gatsby hesitated then added coolly “He’s the man who fixed the World Series in 1919. “the word “coolly” suggests it is completely normal to him. This contributes to one’s interpretation of Gatsby as it reveals a completely different perspective to him; one that is comfortable with unlawful actions and willing to participate in them in order to obtain the money he is so famous for, in contrast to the ever perfect commandeer of endless servants of the Gatsby mansion. This underworld connection severs his high flying image and creates another, more of a smooth criminal, one who is the best in the business.
The fact that we find out that Gatsby has shady connections such as Wolfsheim, adds to our already blurred image of him as we still don't know alot about him, despite what he tells Nick, especially as he says he's from San Francisco which he says is in the Midwest. Their relationship could also make us question the mysterious origins of his wealth as it gives Nick the impression that his wealth was obtained dishonestly, perhaps through illegal activities such as bootlegging or organised crime, which is something Arnold Rothstein (the real life figure that Wolfsheim was based on) participated in.
Considering the character of Meyer Wolfsheim is based on Arnold Rothstein - a notorious New York business man and gambler – we should question his motives and his relationship with Gatsby. Arnold Rothstein was the leader of the Jewish mafia and is reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was fixed. Rothstein also owned a racehorse named Sporting Blood, winner of the 1921 Travers Stakes under suspicious circumstances and with the advent of Prohibition, Rothstein diversified into bootlegging and narcotics. This tells us that he had no regard for the law and may have done anything to make money. In the novel, Wolsheim seems eager to tell Nick that his cuff buttons are made from ‘human molars’ which suggests he is a conspicuous consumer but also makes us question his morals as this seems animalistic. Gatsby tells Nick that Wolfsheim is his ‘friend’ and a ‘gambler’ so we know he’s aware of his habits and lifestyle but is still close to him. Gatsby’s acceptance of this shows us that he, perhaps, lives a similar lifestyle as he seems so casual about it. We also get the impression that Gatsby could be in on his gangster life style as he’s friends with him and seems to know a lot about him as he talks about him getting ‘sentimental’.
Meyer wolfsheim is based around Arnold Rothstein who was nicknamed "The Brain". He was a New York businessman and gambler who became a famous member of the Jewish mafia. Apparently, Rothstein "transformed organized crime from a thuggish activity by hoodlums into a big business, run like a corporation, with himself at the top,” said Leo Katcher a famous crime writer. Some of his infamous crimes include fixing the 1919 World Series by paying Basketball players to purposely lose, and also owning a race horse and paying off people to cut the better horses, then placing a bet and winning hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rothstein has inspired many characters in literature and films, some of which include the films Mobsters, King of the Roaring 20’s and Boardwalk Empire a successful TV series. In the novel, Nick learns Wolfsheim was famous for fixing the 1919 World Series, which Arnold Rothstein genuinely did. The relationship between Wolfsheim and Gatsby shows that Gatsby has some connection to organised crime and boot-legging, showing his extreme wealth is probably not honestly earnt. In Nick’s case, he really admired Gatsby for his enigmatic personality and sense of superiority, and is likely to feel hurt if Gatsby lied to him about his inheritance. Learning of this friendship with Wolfsheim could down grade Nick’s view on Gatsby, who he really admired.
Gatsby’s relationship with Meyer Wolfsheim makes us question everything we have learnt about Gatsby in the novel so far. It presents him as having a slightly shadier background than we had first anticipated, as we have only heard nicks view on him. However this relationship between Wolfsheim and Gatsby reiterates things that were being said about him at Gatsby’s party. Some of them suggested that “he was a German spy during the war” these accusations on Gatsby seem all the more true as we don’t know how to react when we learn of Meyer Wolfsheim’s connections to the World series in 1919. This also raises questions about Gatsby’s fortune as he lives in east egg which is the place of ‘new money’, suggesting that his money perhaps did not come from the most virtuous lifestyle.
Meyer Wolfsheim is interjected in the novel suddenly during a meal between himself Gatsby and Nick; his relationship with Gatsby here reveals several new ideas about Gatsby’s character. Firstly as he is a gagster his relationship with Gatsby allows the reader to question Gatsby’s morals. This encourages the reader to sway towards the opinion of the women at his party that he is “a bootlegger,” and heightens Gatsby’s mysterious persona. However, the fact that Gatsby divulged this information “coolly,” suggests that he disapproves of Wolfsheim’s business making him seem more moral. Moreover, it is revealed that their relationship is purely business based as he assumes that Nick is someone “looking for a business gonnegtion,” showing that Gatsby and him are only friends because of the benefits each of them provide highlighting a practical yet hostile edge to Gatsby’s character. This is highlighted by Wolfsheim’s admiration of Gatsby as he is the kind of man you’d like to take home and introduce to your mother and sister,” which is contrasted by Gatsby’s indifference of him as Gatsby does not protest Wolfsheim’s leaving. Moreover, the reader is encouraged to question the relationship due to Wolfsheim’s less refined speech and actions as he is wearing “cuff buttons,” made out of “human molars,” and is described as “tragic.” This makes the reader wonder why Gatsby is friendly with him and leads them to again wonder whether he is only socialising with him for capital reasons, highlighting a darker side of Gatsby.
Well, first, we are introduced to this new character in the novel as “Mr. Wolfsheim”. Wolfsheim's name is significant: "wolf" as a dangerous carnivore and predator, and then "sheim" signifying German, which in the mid 1920s when Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby was still synonymous with the word "enemy." It is interesting that Fitzgerald integrates this particular name in the novel and such a character would be in association of Gatsby. Also, Wolfsheim talks about his friend Metropole’s death as if it was just another business matter and quickly overlooks this as soon as his meal is served. This could imply his gangster status, as he witnesses deaths etc. Quite often and it seems normal to him now. However, this would lead onto the character of Nick wondering about the particular relationship Gatsby has with this man – Gatsby’s riches could not be all ‘innocent’ as he was first illustrated, instead, this supports Gatsby’s unreliable character and some of the rumours told about him. “There was the smile again. But this time I held out against it,” demonstrates the fact that Nick has learnt to be weary of him, and the introduction to Mr. Wolfsheim has increased in Nick feeling like this. Moreover, Gatsby calls Mr Wolfsheim by his first name, Meyer, which could convey the fact that Gatsby has a close relationship with this character making Gatsby more mysterious in the eyes of Nick and the reader than before.
2. -Meyer Wolfsheim is based on Arnold Rothstein, a gambler who fixed the world series of 1919. -He also fixed a horse race in 1921, conferring with the horse's trainer so that his horse Sporting Blood would win. -Rothstein took part in bootlegging after the prohibition bill and drug dealing -other gangster literature of the 20s: The Love Song of J. Edgar Hoover, by Kinky Freidman (features Al Capone)
3. Gatsby's relationship with Meyer Wolfsheim emphasises his lonliness, and how he's seeking excitement and escape. Gamblers and such like are outsiders in society, which Gatsby understands as he's constantly looking for 'escape'. Meyer seems quite lonely and 'sentinemntal'. His mentality is similar to that of Gatsby's, as he seems to feel quite empty and lost, reminiscing about 'the old Metropole', which is 'filled with faces dead and gone'. Wolfsheim's description of his losses, for example 'Rosy Rosenthal' is similar to Gatsby's previous explanations of losing his family. Their relationship makes Gatsby appear more mysterious to Nick and the reader.
There is no doubt that Meyer Wolfsheim is a dishonest criminal, and the fact that he is Gatsby’s business partner causes us to question whether we really know Gatsby at all. Presented to us as a typical rich businessman with a glamorous and superficial lifestyle, Jay Gatsby’s money could be taken for granted. I myself have never questioned its source. Meyer’s dealings with Gatsby shine a dubious light on the latter’s fortune, and we begin to question how he really became that wealthy. Also, we aren’t told much about Wolfsheim, which keeps us guessing about his character and the true nature of his partnership with Gatsby.
Cecilia Jastrzembska's answer:
ReplyDeleteIn the Great Gatsby, Wolfsheim symbolizes Gatsby’s shadowed gangster past and lifestyle: the illegal source of his great wealth, namely dealings in bootlegging and organized crime. Gatsby’s relationship with Meyer Wolfsheim is platonic, yet also founded upon business and money. For example, Mr Wolfsheim immediately assumes Nick is a man Gatsby has brought to him seeking a monetary opportunity. Furthermore, Gatsby leaves to take a telephone call, an action which friends at lunch do not usually do. He is polite yet almost indifferent, for example when Wolfsheim leaves under excuses of older age, and he does nothing to stop him. This causes the reader to experience and imagine the darker side of Gatsby, that which survived gang life and conquered it, and affirms the existence of it. The audience also understands that Gatsby is familiar with illegal practices, for example “He’s a gambler”. Gatsby hesitated then added coolly “He’s the man who fixed the World Series in 1919. “the word “coolly” suggests it is completely normal to him. This contributes to one’s interpretation of Gatsby as it reveals a completely different perspective to him; one that is comfortable with unlawful actions and willing to participate in them in order to obtain the money he is so famous for, in contrast to the ever perfect commandeer of endless servants of the Gatsby mansion. This underworld connection severs his high flying image and creates another, more of a smooth criminal, one who is the best in the business.
The fact that we find out that Gatsby has shady connections such as Wolfsheim, adds to our already blurred image of him as we still don't know alot about him, despite what he tells Nick, especially as he says he's from San Francisco which he says is in the Midwest. Their relationship could also make us question the mysterious origins of his wealth as it gives Nick the impression that his wealth was obtained dishonestly, perhaps through illegal activities such as bootlegging or organised crime, which is something Arnold Rothstein (the real life figure that Wolfsheim was based on) participated in.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the character of Meyer Wolfsheim is based on Arnold Rothstein - a notorious New York business man and gambler – we should question his motives and his relationship with Gatsby. Arnold Rothstein was the leader of the Jewish mafia and is reputed to have been behind baseball's Black Sox Scandal, in which the 1919 World Series was fixed. Rothstein also owned a racehorse named Sporting Blood, winner of the 1921 Travers Stakes under suspicious circumstances and with the advent of Prohibition, Rothstein diversified into bootlegging and narcotics. This tells us that he had no regard for the law and may have done anything to make money. In the novel, Wolsheim seems eager to tell Nick that his cuff buttons are made from ‘human molars’ which suggests he is a conspicuous consumer but also makes us question his morals as this seems animalistic.
ReplyDeleteGatsby tells Nick that Wolfsheim is his ‘friend’ and a ‘gambler’ so we know he’s aware of his habits and lifestyle but is still close to him. Gatsby’s acceptance of this shows us that he, perhaps, lives a similar lifestyle as he seems so casual about it. We also get the impression that Gatsby could be in on his gangster life style as he’s friends with him and seems to know a lot about him as he talks about him getting ‘sentimental’.
Meyer wolfsheim is based around Arnold Rothstein who was nicknamed "The Brain". He was a New York businessman and gambler who became a famous member of the Jewish mafia. Apparently, Rothstein "transformed organized crime from a thuggish activity by hoodlums into a big business, run like a corporation, with himself at the top,” said Leo Katcher a famous crime writer. Some of his infamous crimes include fixing the 1919 World Series by paying Basketball players to purposely lose, and also owning a race horse and paying off people to cut the better horses, then placing a bet and winning hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rothstein has inspired many characters in literature and films, some of which include the films Mobsters, King of the Roaring 20’s and Boardwalk Empire a successful TV series.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, Nick learns Wolfsheim was famous for fixing the 1919 World Series, which Arnold Rothstein genuinely did. The relationship between Wolfsheim and Gatsby shows that Gatsby has some connection to organised crime and boot-legging, showing his extreme wealth is probably not honestly earnt. In Nick’s case, he really admired Gatsby for his enigmatic personality and sense of superiority, and is likely to feel hurt if Gatsby lied to him about his inheritance. Learning of this friendship with Wolfsheim could down grade Nick’s view on Gatsby, who he really admired.
Gatsby’s relationship with Meyer Wolfsheim makes us question everything we have learnt about Gatsby in the novel so far. It presents him as having a slightly shadier background than we had first anticipated, as we have only heard nicks view on him. However this relationship between Wolfsheim and Gatsby reiterates things that were being said about him at Gatsby’s party. Some of them suggested that “he was a German spy during the war” these accusations on Gatsby seem all the more true as we don’t know how to react when we learn of Meyer Wolfsheim’s connections to the World series in 1919. This also raises questions about Gatsby’s fortune as he lives in east egg which is the place of ‘new money’, suggesting that his money perhaps did not come from the most virtuous lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteMeyer Wolfsheim is interjected in the novel suddenly during a meal between himself Gatsby and Nick; his relationship with Gatsby here reveals several new ideas about Gatsby’s character. Firstly as he is a gagster his relationship with Gatsby allows the reader to question Gatsby’s morals. This encourages the reader to sway towards the opinion of the women at his party that he is “a bootlegger,” and heightens Gatsby’s mysterious persona. However, the fact that Gatsby divulged this information “coolly,” suggests that he disapproves of Wolfsheim’s business making him seem more moral. Moreover, it is revealed that their relationship is purely business based as he assumes that Nick is someone “looking for a business gonnegtion,” showing that Gatsby and him are only friends because of the benefits each of them provide highlighting a practical yet hostile edge to Gatsby’s character. This is highlighted by Wolfsheim’s admiration of Gatsby as he is the kind of man you’d like to take home and introduce to your mother and sister,” which is contrasted by Gatsby’s indifference of him as Gatsby does not protest Wolfsheim’s leaving. Moreover, the reader is encouraged to question the relationship due to Wolfsheim’s less refined speech and actions as he is wearing “cuff buttons,” made out of “human molars,” and is described as “tragic.” This makes the reader wonder why Gatsby is friendly with him and leads them to again wonder whether he is only socialising with him for capital reasons, highlighting a darker side of Gatsby.
ReplyDeleteMaryam said...
ReplyDeleteWell, first, we are introduced to this new character in the novel as “Mr. Wolfsheim”. Wolfsheim's name is significant: "wolf" as a dangerous carnivore and predator, and then "sheim" signifying German, which in the mid 1920s when Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby was still synonymous with the word "enemy." It is interesting that Fitzgerald integrates this particular name in the novel and such a character would be in association of Gatsby. Also, Wolfsheim talks about his friend Metropole’s death as if it was just another business matter and quickly overlooks this as soon as his meal is served. This could imply his gangster status, as he witnesses deaths etc. Quite often and it seems normal to him now. However, this would lead onto the character of Nick wondering about the particular relationship Gatsby has with this man – Gatsby’s riches could not be all ‘innocent’ as he was first illustrated, instead, this supports Gatsby’s unreliable character and some of the rumours told about him. “There was the smile again. But this time I held out against it,” demonstrates the fact that Nick has learnt to be weary of him, and the introduction to Mr. Wolfsheim has increased in Nick feeling like this. Moreover, Gatsby calls Mr Wolfsheim by his first name, Meyer, which could convey the fact that Gatsby has a close relationship with this character making Gatsby more mysterious in the eyes of Nick and the reader than before.
2. -Meyer Wolfsheim is based on Arnold Rothstein, a gambler who fixed the world series of 1919.
ReplyDelete-He also fixed a horse race in 1921, conferring with the horse's trainer so that his horse Sporting Blood would win.
-Rothstein took part in bootlegging after the prohibition bill and drug dealing
-other gangster literature of the 20s: The Love Song of J. Edgar Hoover, by Kinky Freidman
(features Al Capone)
3. Gatsby's relationship with Meyer Wolfsheim emphasises his lonliness, and how he's seeking excitement and escape. Gamblers and such like are outsiders in society, which Gatsby understands as he's constantly looking for 'escape'. Meyer seems quite lonely and 'sentinemntal'. His mentality is similar to that of Gatsby's, as he seems to feel quite empty and lost, reminiscing about 'the old Metropole', which is 'filled with faces dead and gone'. Wolfsheim's description of his losses, for example 'Rosy Rosenthal' is similar to Gatsby's previous explanations of losing his family. Their relationship makes Gatsby appear more mysterious to Nick and the reader.
Kiki said...
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that Meyer Wolfsheim is a dishonest criminal, and the fact that he is Gatsby’s business partner causes us to question whether we really know Gatsby at all. Presented to us as a typical rich businessman with a glamorous and superficial lifestyle, Jay Gatsby’s money could be taken for granted. I myself have never questioned its source. Meyer’s dealings with Gatsby shine a dubious light on the latter’s fortune, and we begin to question how he really became that wealthy. Also, we aren’t told much about Wolfsheim, which keeps us guessing about his character and the true nature of his partnership with Gatsby.