Throughout the Great Gatsby, the characters universally aspire to be accepted. It is human nature. In fact, according to Morgana Bailey in a Ted Talk, a 2013 study found that a large number, 64%, changed their appearance or other aspects of their identity to be accepted in the workplace. In the novel, James Gatz changes his name to Gatsby and fabricates a web of lies to hide who he truly is within. He lies about being an Oxford man and even becomes rich by breaking the law and becoming a bootlegger during the time of the Prohibition. He changes whole entire identity just to be accepted by Daisy and gain her romantic companionship. The Ted Talk stresses that people believe conformity and acceptance are critical to long term advancements. This is especially true for Daisy Buchanan because she stays in a relationship with Tom that she does not want to be in to advance her position in life. In order for her to be stable off of his money, be given luxuries, and be supported by Tom, she strives to retain his acceptance of her by ignoring the fact that he is having an affair. Even the narrator of the novel, Nick Caraway, yearns to be accepted. The Ted Talk informs that the effects of personal stress and social stigmas are a deadly combination. They can increase the risk for heart disease, violence, and suicide. Nick's willingness to go along with whatever was happening in order to be accepted (Ex. Tom cheating, Gatsby struggling to win Daisy's love, Gatsby's illegal bootlegging, etc.) ultimately was in part responsible for Gatsby's death, Wilson's suicide, and perhaps even Myrtle's death. By the last chapter, his tone was somber. Acceptance did not get any of the any of the characters any further in life. Their desire only made themselves unhappy. And who knows? Maybe Nick will end up with heart disease too.
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