Jimmy Gatz
Introduction by Nick Carraway

In accordance to all my adventures, meeting the man known as Jay Gatsby had to be the most spontaneous, fresh periods in my life. Mr. Gatsby remained suspicious throughout our entire acquaintanceship. At times he seemed very close and friendly, however, he often seemed distance and isolated, cutting off communication altogether. In the later years of his life, he brought me with him on his meetings and encounters, friends of his, he would say. Gatsby, as I later found out, had an ongoing pursuance for Daisy. I was completely oblivious to their current relationship, as well as their past. He was very secretive, which didn’t bother me seeing as he was secretive about everything, not revealing anything to anyone. Sometimes I thought I was just a mule or servant of his, that he would lug around and make sure he stayed sane. The more I think back about our time together, the more differing ideas come to mind. Was I some sort of associate without knowing? Was I a close friend or excuse to his endless shenanigans? The more I thought about this, the more I forgot about our actual relationship. It wasn’t until I read these entries that I discovered how much he changed as a person. Meeting his father was a true eye opener as to whom this man might have been. What used to be a calm and collected man, who always had a plan, who always had a schedule; turned into someone careless, better yet, reckless and frivolous in nature. I noticed that no matter how secluded and quiet he was at certain times, he never separated himself from friends. His ongoing struggle with his father contradicts that as well, showing his separation from his family.

Mr. Gatsby had so many stories to tell. At the time of our adventures, I doubted the honesty in these stories. Were they real? Were they just a backup for his lifestyle change? What amazed me was, although he changed his name, he still told stories of his past life. He told me of times with Dan Cody, he told stories of his college life, and when speaking of Daisy, I didn’t pick it up at first, but one could tell that he had met her before.

Before meeting Mr. Gatsby I had idealized him in my head. He lived in a large house, not inherited but earned. He threw crazy parties, but remained a mystery at all of them. No one had met him personally, or at least they wouldn’t admit to it. He was isolated. I wouldn’t say he was lonely. Most might think of that after hearing of the extravagant parties and how he always had people with him, however he had something that he wanted, and something that he strived for and kept him busy. I believe that everything he did were more of a filler; something that made more sense.

Mr. Gatsby in his last days made something clear to me. He said that everyone needs to remember him. I spent days trifling through his house, looking for some artifact, some tangible piece of something, that told of his great life. After a long search, I stumbled into his room and found a journal full of his writing. This journal is dated back to Jimmy Gatz’s first day in possession of it. The journal follows his troublesome past; including friends, family, and work. However, Mr. Gatsby never addressed exactly what he did, nor did he reveal any full names or actions. The entries map the progression of Mr. Gatsby and show how he develops into the man he was before he passed. I do not deserve to introduce such a great man, but may he go down in history.




Journal Entry #1
My first journal. Some of my friends had been given journals and after my birthday I decided I would use some of the money that I had saved to go buy this. Hopefully I will make it big someday and look back on this and laugh.
Journal Entry #42
Still writing every night, though it is starting to become a burden. I might try and write every other night, or just when I feel necessary.
Journal Entry #60
I turned 13 today! At school, my teacher threw me a party. I met a new student today. He goes by the name Shafter. He seems to be a pretty cool guy. Mitch, Shafter and I all play baseball, so we will probably be spending a lot of time together.
Journal Entry #127
It’s been a long time since I wrote anything. I have been so consumed with parties and games that my friends have been inviting me to. I am 14 and a half. Is it weird to be counting halves at my age? Some say children are the only ones that do that, but my time is so precious that halves count just as much as full years.
Journal Entry #194
I quit baseball. Not because of the team, we had won every game for the past three years now, but because of the commitment. I had bigger, better things to be doing. I still work out and educate myself, but Shafter, Mitch and I need space to excel.

Journal Entry #248
I ran away from home. My father was pushing my mother and me both away. I did not want my life to end up the same way.
Journal Entry #260
I just turned 17. I met a man named Dan Cody. He invited me to go on his yacht with him. This is the beginning of my new life, and soon to be my life with my love.
Journal Entry #300
I have decided to enroll in the army. Telling Daisy is going to be difficult. I have decided to leave my journal at home, in fear that I will lose it. I will come back and write of my adventures.
Journal Entry #310
Daisy married off. I have started drinking to kill the pain. I will get her back.
Journal Entry #350
I started attending Oxford with Shafter and Wolf. I’ll have to work at the school to afford the tuition. I dropped drinking and don’t plan to pick it up ever again.
Journal Entry #399
Shafter gave me a hard time today. He and Wolf together were trying to persuade me to drink with them. My mind is further occupied, thinking of the wonderful woman back home. She made me so happy, so calm. It feels as if nothing else matters; everything I ever think about involves her. School is getting tougher, as suspected. Everyone I ever associated myself with had told me it would. The image of a man I once knew puts my mind in a stalemate. Who is he? Did he have an influence on my life?
Journal Entry #417
I have started working with Shafter. After hearing the news from Daisy, I’ll do anything to win her back.
Journal Entry #443
Dealings are doing well. Wolf no longer assists us in business. He left shortly after we fired half the company. I believe he moved up north a bit to start gambling. Shafter and I are getting deeper and deeper and fear that we will soon be engulfed by the business. We have come to the conclusion that we might need to disappear, vanish.
Journal Entry #460
Shafter’s death was the death of me. Watching it all unravel, so much time put into the project to watch it end so quickly. What do I do next?
Journal Entry #491
I look back at my previous entries and note my unfortunate past. Wolf and I began to work with each other as we started our new lives. Meyer Wolfsheim and Jay Gatsby.
Journal Entry #492
Daisy was not the girl I remembered.

Jay Gatsby,