The Great Gatsby: A Hero’s Journey Through Illusion, Ambition, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
By Peter de Kuster
Introduction: When the Green Light Fades, What Story Remains?
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a dazzling portrait of Jazz Age ambition, love, and loss, told through the eyes of Nick Carraway. As Nick is drawn into the orbit of the enigmatic Jay Gatsby—whose lavish parties mask a desperate longing for the past—the novel becomes a parable for creative leaders: you are the storyteller of your own life. Will you chase illusions, or will you craft a legend grounded in truth?
Plot Summary: From Dreams to Disillusionment
Nick Carraway moves from the Midwest to Long Island, renting a modest home beside the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s legendary parties and extravagant lifestyle are all in pursuit of one goal: rekindling his lost romance with Daisy Buchanan, now married to the privileged and unfaithful Tom.
Nick helps orchestrate Gatsby and Daisy’s reunion, but the dream soon unravels. Tensions erupt between Gatsby and Tom; Daisy accidentally kills Tom’s mistress Myrtle in Gatsby’s car, and Gatsby takes the blame. Betrayed and abandoned, Gatsby is murdered by Myrtle’s husband, while Daisy and Tom retreat into their wealth. Nick, disillusioned by the East’s moral decay, returns home—changed forever by what he has witnessed.
The Hero’s Journey in The Great Gatsby
Reflections for Creative Leaders at Every Stage
| Stage | Novel Moment | Reflection for Creative Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ordinary World | Nick’s life in the Midwest; Gatsby’s humble beginnings | What “safe harbor” are you leaving behind? |
| 2. Call to Adventure | Nick moves East; Gatsby’s parties beckon him into a world of glamour | What “green light” (dream) pulls you forward? |
| 3. Refusal of the Call | Nick’s unease with East Egg’s superficiality | Where do you resist change to protect your comfort? |
| 4. Meeting the Mentor | Gatsby’s story and ambition; Daisy as an ideal | Who embodies the dreams or lessons you seek? |
| 5. Crossing the Threshold | Nick attends Gatsby’s party; Gatsby and Daisy are reunited | What commitment marks your point of no return? |
| 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies | Tom’s suspicion, Daisy’s indecision, Myrtle’s death | Who challenges your values and vision? |
| 7. Approach to the Inmost Cave | Gatsby’s confrontation with Tom at the Plaza Hotel | What uncomfortable truth must you face? |
| 8. Ordeal | Gatsby’s murder; Nick’s crisis of conscience | When has your pursuit of a dream led to loss or sacrifice? |
| 9. Reward | Nick’s clarity about Gatsby’s nobility and the emptiness of the East | What wisdom do you gain from disillusionment? |
| 10. The Road Back | Nick organizes Gatsby’s funeral, cuts ties with Jordan | How do you act when the dream is gone? |
| 11. Resurrection | Nick’s final reckoning with the East, writing Gatsby’s story | How has your journey transformed your perspective? |
| 12. Return with the Elixir | Nick returns West, carrying hard-won insight | What new story will you tell with your experience? |
Conclusion: The Alchemy of Broken Dreams
The Great Gatsby teaches that leadership is not about reaching the green light—it’s about understanding why you chase it. Gatsby’s tragedy lies not in his failure, but in his refusal to see Daisy and himself as they truly are. For creative leaders, the lesson is clear: your legacy is not written in gold, but in the honesty and courage of your story.
Questions to Take Away
- What “Gatsby-esque” illusion are you mistaking for purpose?
- How does your “West Egg” (success) mask deeper longing?
- What “Daisy” (unattainable ideal) do you need to release?
- When has your “Tom Buchanan” (inner cynic) sabotaged your vision?
- What story will your scars tell?
Story Coaching Offer: Craft Your Own Legend
For leaders ready to:
- Confront the stories that imprison them (illusions, unattainable ideals)
- Transform failure into narrative fuel
- Lead with legacy, not just ambition
Benefits
- Identify your “Gatsby persona” (the myth vs. the reality)
- Develop “Nick Carraway” clarity to see beyond illusions
- Craft stories that resonate beyond the present moment
Pricing
- Full Story Coaching Session (2 hours): €325 (excl. VAT)
- Express Session (1 hour): €200 (excl. VAT)
Contact: peter@wearesomeone.nl
You are the dreamer. The storyteller. The legacy.
What is Your Story? 