The Great Gatsby (2013) Ending Explained
tl;dr: The Great Gatsby ends with Jay Gatsby being murdered by George Wilson, who mistakenly believes Gatsby killed his wife Myrtle (she was actually killed by Daisy Buchanan in a hit-and-run). Gatsby dies alone, his extravagant parties and dreams of reuniting with Daisy crumbling. Nick Carraway, the narrator, organizes a small funeral, revealing how few truly cared for Gatsby. The film closes with Nick reflecting on Gatsby's tragic pursuit of the American Dream, symbolized by the green light at the end of Daisy's dock-a metaphor for unattainable desires and the emptiness of wealth without meaning.*
The Tragic Climax and Gatsby's Death
The ending of The Great Gatsby is a brutal culmination of obsession, deception, and misplaced loyalty. After Daisy Buchanan accidentally kills Myrtle Wilson in a hit-and-run, Tom Buchanan - Daisy's husband and Gatsby's rival-manipulates George Wilson into believing Gatsby was both Myrtle's secret lover and her murderer. Consumed by grief and rage, George shoots Gatsby in his pool before taking his own life. Gatsby's death is deeply ironic: he built his entire fortune and identity to win Daisy back, yet in the end, she abandons him, returning to the security of her wealthy but loveless marriage with Tom. His demise underscores the novel's central theme-the American Dream as a hollow illusion.
The Funeral and the Absence of True Friends
One of the most poignant moments in the ending is Gatsby's sparsely attended funeral. Despite hosting lavish parties filled with hundreds of guests, only Nick, Gatsby's father, and a few servants show up to mourn him. Even Daisy, the woman he loved, doesn't bother to attend. This stark contrast between Gatsby's vibrant life and lonely death highlights the superficiality of his social circle. The people who enjoyed his hospitality never truly knew or cared about him-they were only there for the spectacle. Nick's disillusionment with East Coast elite society deepens here, reinforcing Fitzgerald's critique of moral decay in the Roaring Twenties.
Nick's Reflection and the Green Light
In the final scenes, Nick reflects on Gatsby's relentless optimism and doomed love for Daisy. He famously describes Gatsby as believing in the "green light," the symbol of his unreachable dreams (embodied by the light at the end of Daisy's dock). Nick's closing monologue suggests that Gatsby's tragedy lies not just in his death but in his inability to see that his idealized version of Daisy-and the past he longed to reclaim-never truly existed. The green light, once a beacon of hope, becomes a metaphor for the futility of chasing illusions, a theme that resonates with the broader disillusionment of the post-World War I era.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- Did Daisy ever truly love Gatsby?
- Yes, but only as a romanticized memory; she ultimately values comfort over passion.
- No, she was drawn to his wealth and the thrill of rebellion but couldn't abandon her social status.
- Why didn't Tom expose Daisy as Myrtle's killer?
- Self-preservation: He feared scandal and legal consequences.
- Manipulation: He used George's grief to eliminate Gatsby, his rival.
- What does Gatsby's death say about the American Dream?
- It critiques the dream as a corrupt, unattainable fantasy.
- It shows that reinvention has limits - Gatsby couldn't escape his past or society's prejudices.
Personal Opinion on the Ending and the Film
The ending of The Great Gatsby is a masterful tragedy that lingers long after the credits roll. Baz Luhrmann's 2013 adaptation amplifies the decadence and heartbreak with its hyper-stylized visuals, but the core message remains faithful to Fitzgerald's novel. Gatsby's death isn't just the fall of one man; it's the collapse of an entire ideology. The film's grandeur makes his loneliness even more devastating-a man surrounded by people yet utterly alone. While some critics argue Luhrmann's flashy direction overshadows the subtleties of the book, I think the excess serves the story's themes perfectly. The ending leaves you haunted, questioning whether Gatsby's hope was noble or naive-and that ambiguity is what makes it timeless.
In conclusion, The Great Gatsby's ending is a devastating commentary on love, class, and the illusions we cling to. Gatsby dies chasing a dream that was never real, and the world moves on without a second glance. It's a reminder that wealth and ambition can't buy happiness-or rewrite the past. The green light fades, but the story's power endures.