Final answer:
James Gatz, known as Jay Gatsby, changed his name to signify a complete transformation of identity aiming for wealth and status during the 1920s. Fitzgerald's work, including his own reflections in 'The Crack-Up', captures the era's grandeur and underlying discontent.
Step-by-step explanation:
When James Gatz changed his name to Jay Gatsby, he sought to reinvent himself and distance his identity from his humble beginnings. This act of renaming himself was symbolic of his desire for a new life—one of wealth, status, and sophistication, which reflected the overall spirit of the Roaring Twenties. The transformative act goes beyond mere superficial change; it represents Gatsby's deep yearning to rewrite his own story and create a persona that aligns with his aspirational vision of himself. F. Scott Fitzgerald meticulously crafts Gatsby's journey as a singular narrative without implying he is emblematic of other figures of his era, such as industrial barons or bootleggers. This narrative choice by Fitzgerald emphasizes the singular nature of Gatsby's experience, while also allowing it to embody the universal themes of ambition, dreams, and the pursuit of an elusive ideal.
Fitzgerald himself was a figure deeply intertwined with the cultural and social fabric of the 1920s, often encapsulated within his literary works. In The Crack-Up, Fitzgerald reflects on his life during the 1920s as a time of personal disillusionment despite surface-level success and acclaim. He acknowledges the inherent dissatisfaction within his professional life as a writer and the temptation of idealized heroism. This personal insight aligns with the broader themes of his novels, where characters grapple with the gilded allure of wealth and status against deeper, more existential yearnings.
Fitzgerald's portrayal of the 1920s, through both his fictional characters and his personal essays, paints a picture of a decadent decade marked by both dizzying heights and profound discontents. By creating iconic characters that chase after dreams and confront harsh realities, Fitzgerald captures the essence of the 1920s experience—its opulence, its moral complexities, and its enduring myths.