If Gatsby were to keep a journal, this is what he would have documented.

October 1917

Dear Journal,
          Today I met the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eye upon.  Her name is Daisy Fay and she is eighteen years old.  Today I had the liberty of spending time with this lovely girl in her car.  I loved getting to know her and I believe I have fallen in love.  Daisy is known for getting along with many of the men around this town, but I want to be the last.  I know what I must do to make Daisy mine; I just hope that she would be willing to wait for me.  Apparently my being a lieutenant is not enough to woo Miss Daisy, but she is the one I just know it.  Even though we spent a short amount of time together in that car I know that she and I are meant to be together.  I just know my feelings are true because I could not stop admiring her.  Hearing her talk was like hearing the most beautiful song in the world.  She is the reason why I was put on this earth to love, and I will do anything I can to make her mine, even if it means devoting my whole life to the job.  More to come, journal, wish me luck!


  --Gatsby


Summer 1923

Hello Journal,
     My it has been quite a while since I’ve last written in you.  It seems I have been quite preoccupied since our last meeting.  I have managed to convince the people of West Egg that I once was an Oxford man.  I am attempting to recreate myself, you see, in an attempt to impress Daisy.  Daisy lives over in East Egg and from my house I can almost see to the other side.  Anyways since our last talk I have come into a lot of money.  I have also managed to convince everyone I have come into this money due to inheritance.  However the truth is, and this is CONFIDENTIAL:  I have been bootlegging.  You see, due to the current time period, bootlegging has become a way of life for those people who want to come up in the world fast and easily.  Since the ban on alcohol back in 1920, people have just been trying to get their hands on alcohol.  Let’s just say it’s like the forbidden fruit.  Since nobody could have it the demand was higher.  I took advantage of this and made quite a bit of money, enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life.  Anyway I threw a bash tonight in hopes to see my lovely Daisy.  However Jordan Baker, Daisy’s good friend showed up.  I took advantage of this opportunity to talk to Jordan about Daisy.  I took her away from the festivities and we had a chat for an hour about how she could set Daisy and me up to meet again.  After much discussion I decided to ask Nick to assist me in setting us up at his home.  It may take a little bribing and some Gatsby charm but what does he have to lose, right?  Alright journal, I am off to propose a trip to Nick so we can get to know each other a little better, and so that I can use him to get to know Daisy all over again.

  --Gatsby

Oh Journal
I am so full of emotion I cannot even remember today’s date!  I really just cannot even think straight after all of today’s events!  Okay, I will explain myself but just give me a second to collect my thoughts…
          I went over to Nick’s today…yes today was the day I would finally see my lovely Daisy again.  Nick had a nice set-up with tea and snacks but I just could not even find the hunger within myself to eat anything.  After ringing Nick’s doorbell I knew I looked slightly nervous because he looked at me like I was sick and needed to sit down.  I have never been so shaky or so nervous in my entire life journal.  But you see I had a good reason.  This girl, this beautiful girl that I have not seen in five years was finally going to be in my presence again and my body could not handle the concept!  Luckily I got to Nick’s before she did so I had a few minutes to sit and relax and do my deep breathing exercises.  When Nick heard a car pull up he went to get it and I felt like I was going to lose my cookies right there in the middle of his living room.  However when she walked in, I managed to relax.  I leaned back against the mantelpiece and just stared at her.  Stared deep into her eyes and I found it nearly impossible to let go of my gaze.  And she just stared back at me, almost uncertain and unbelieving of the fact that I was in the room with her.  Both of us finally realized how much time it has been since we were together.  All of the sudden the clock sitting on the mantelpiece fell and I managed to catch it.  Journal I was so nervous I just could not even speak to her.  Thank goodness for Nick he managed to start up some conversation but the meeting was just so surreal!  Seeing her again was what I had been dreaming about and thinking about for so many years and to see her sitting there, all prim and proper and grown up, I just did not know what to say or how to act.  Anyway the day progressed and I wanted to show her my magnificent house.  It is the one thing that can show my wealth because I know that’s what she wanted.  Overall journal the day was not necessarily a success but it was progress and I cannot wait until I see her again.
 

--Gatsby


Hello Journal,
I just wanted to write quickly in you journal before I left for Daisy’s house with Nick…
     I am so happy that Daisy is finally in my life again.  She just brings such meaning and reason into everything that I do.  I can tell that all of this work really has been worth it.  I am prepared to woo her and take her away from that awful man, Tom.  I can tell he is not very fond of me due to the numerous glares and sarcastic comments I received during our last encounter.  She does not deserve to be with such a horrible man.  Money is no longer a problem now that I am wealthy as well and we know, journal, that Daisy is clearly in love with me since she fell in love with me way before she found Tom.  Ah well, journal I must go but I will be sure to report back to you about how the day went!

  --Gatsby

Journal…
     The most DREADFUL thing happened today on my way back from the hotel…oh well I guess I better explain everything.
     So as you know Nick and I went over to the Buchanan’s house to visit.  Well it was terribly hot out today and everyone decided that it would be nice to go into town and stay in a hotel room.  Well Tom being the nasty thing he is decided that he wanted to drive my car and insisted that I drive his.  You see, I am not the most confrontational person so I just went along with it.  I trusted he would keep it nice for me.  Anyway we arrivedh at the hotel and already there is that sense of tension in the air, specifically between Tom and me.  Anyway we just start arguing about who Daisy loves more and all that other stuff and Daisy claims she loves us both!  I just could not stand it and I could tell Tom was not having much fun either.  We left the hotel after the argument because we had made everyone uncomfortable.  Luckily I got to drive my car again and I was at ease knowing it was safe…at least until the most horrific thing happened…
     Well you see Daisy claimed that driving would ease her nerves so I offered to let her drive us home.  Well her tenseness caused the death of a woman named Myrtle Wilson.  We were driving along the open road and Daisy was visibly upset.  She just was not paying attention and ran right into Ms. Wilson who dashed out onto the road at the last second…and the worst part is journal that Daisy did not stop the car even after I insisted she should.  But journal as long as I live I will not turn her in.  I will take full blame for the death of this woman.  I just hope that everything at the Buchanan house is okay.  I just got back from keeping watch over there because I wanted to assure myself that no harm would be caused to Daisy after the events that took place this afternoon.

I will try and get some rest journal but it sure as hell will not be easy…

--Gatsby

Hi, this is Nick one of Gatsby’s only true friends.  I just wanted to document that Gatsby died today.  He was shot by George Wilson while Gatsby was swimming in his pool.  Mr. Wilson was convinced that Gatsby ran over his wife in the auto accident.  However let the truth be told that it was not Gatsby, but Daisy.  Gatsby’s funeral will be in a few days and so far the only person I have managed to get in touch with is his father.  It is a shame that no one else had feelings for Gatsby, or enough feelings to attend his funeral.  It will not be like one of his parties that is for sure…

Since the book is told about Gatsby from an outsider's point of view (Nick), I decided to defend Gatsby's state of mind through journal entries.  These entries are based on the book's main events and describe the feelings and thoughts that Gatsby had that were unable to be seen by the reader.  The entries mainly focus on winning Daisy over because that is the main purpose in Gatsby's life.  He wants to be with Daisy for the rest of his life and the entries show the rise and fall of his dream.  It also shows his point of view about Tom and how he dealt with the murder of Myrtle Wilson.  The journal entries are an important part of this project because it shows Gatsby's view on his life events instead of Nick's view.  It is much more personal and I think that the reader should be able to see into Gatsby's thoughts.