much about his son's journey to attain wealth, Henry tells Nick that Jay was a generous man and even bought him a home. He then shows Nick his son's "General Resolves" on the back cover of aHopalong Cassidy book. Gatsby's impressive schedule as young man proves his dedication to bettering himself.

Henry Gatz's arrival is significant for several reasons. He provides insight into Jay Gatsby's driven mindset, which led to his financial success. Henry also reminds the reader of Gatsby's humble beginnings, which further humanizes Gatsby. The fact that Gatsby's father is the only person who genuinely cares about him enough to attend his funeral illuminates Gatsby's vain pursuit of wealth. While Gatsby pursued the American Dream, he failed to develop meaningful relationships, which is why his father is the only genuine person, except for Nick, attending his funeral.

Significance is a broad term. In my opinion, Mr. Gatz arrival symbolizes how alone Jay really was in his seemingly big life. Mr. Gatz knows very little, if any about the truth of Jay Gatsby's life today. The one person that came on the scene to honor the life of Jay was his father, an underinformed father. I think who Mr. Gatz was as a man demonstrates that life should be more about people and less about things. Obviously his connection with his son was of value to him, but for some reason it seems as if of late there has been great distance between the two. This should signal to readers that making the most of moments in life with those we care for is of utmost importance.

Gatsby's father arrives to attend Gatsby's funeral.  His character serves several functions.  First of all, we learn what Gatsby was like as a boy. Mr. Gatz shows the notes  that the young James Gatz wrote in his Hopalong Cassidy book, and we learn that Gatsby had big dreams very early and was driven to achieve: "He was bound to get ahead."

We also are reminded of Gatsby's modest beginnings.  Mr. Gatz is a middle class man and was immensely proud of his son's financial accomplishments.  In this way, more pathos is created for Gatsby who had dared to aspire to such heights only to be brought down by the sadly mistaken grieving husband, George Wilson.

Henry C. Gatz, also referred to as Mr. Gatz, is Jay Gatsby's biological father. It is important to note that James Gatz was a humble man from a poor family, who transformed himself into the wealthy, renowned Jay Gatsby. Following Gatsby's tragic death, Nick Carraway proceeds to make funeral arrangements for his deceased friend and informs Gatsby's father of his son's death. Mr. Gatz is initially portrayed as a solemn-looking old man; he is dismayed and helpless when he arrives for his son's funeral. Mr. Gatz is a humble man from the Midwest who is extremely proud of his son's accomplishments. Nick Carraway mentions that Gatsby's father viewed his son's home in amazement and believed that James could have become one of America's most prominent men. Mr. Gatz also shows Nick a picture of Gatsby's mansion that his son gave him and mentions that James bought him a home in the Midwest. Mr. Gatz also shows Nick his son's strict self-improvement schedule written in the back of a book, which reveals James Gatz's work ethic and dedication.

Mr. Gatz is Henry C. Gatz, Jay Gatsby’s father. We meet Gatsby’s father in chapter nine of the book, before Gatsby’s funeral. It is interesting that the last name of Gatsby’s father is different from Gatsby’s. This is further proof of the façade Gatsby lived his life behind in order to fit into the social class of the fashionable East Egg. Gatsby wore the face of wealth. His father, Mr. Gatz, was a startling contrast. Mr. Gatz was a “solemn old man very helpless and dismayed, bundled up in a long cheap ulster against the warm September day” (p. 175).

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is the title character who lives in the enormous house neighboring the house of the story's narrator, Nick Carraway. Jay Gatsby throws elaborate and outrageous parties where everyone is invited. He is fabulously wealthy and it is later discovered that he has made this money through bootlegging and racketeering. He illegal connections are only hinted at in the novel. The name Jay Gatsby is one that he has taken on. His original name was James Gatz. In the end we see him as a romantic dreamer. He is, I think, best described in the first chapter when Nick states that "If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, . . . it was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again."

Jay Gatsby is in most ways the main character in this book.  Everything really revolves around him in the book.

He is a man who was born poor in the Midwest.  He got a taste of being rich when he signed on with a rich man whose yacht he saw out on a lake.

He was not able to get rich himself at first.  Being poor made him unable to get Daisy to marry him.

He then made himself rich through illegal means as a way to try to win Daisy.  He moves to Long Island in hopes of seeing her again. This book shows what his life is like now that he is rich.  And it shows what happens when he finally meets up with Daisy again.