The critic Sven Birkerts says that the novel is about "disillusionment and hope." Who do you think illustrates both of these qualities in The Great Gatsby? What insight about life do you see illustrated through this person's actions?

Jay Gatsby most fittingly demonstrates the qualities of disillusionment and hope throughout the novel. Jay Gatsby was born into a lower-class family and had a brief relationship with the wealthy Daisy Fay as a young man before he left America to fight in the war overseas. When Gatsby returned home from the war, he became business partners with Meyer Wolfsheim and entered the illegal bootlegging industry. Gatsby was able to amass an extraordinary amount of wealth and purchased a mansion directly across from Daisy's home in the East Egg.
Gatsby holds on to the hope that after being away for five years he can win Daisy back and convince her to divorce her husband, Tom Buchanan. Despite the improbability of Daisy disregarding her marriage and leaving her secure life, Gatsby has hope and faith that he will be able to win her back. Nick Carraway also mentions that Gatsby has an "extraordinary gift for hope" and is a romantic at heart. Unfortunately, Jay Gatsby also experiences disillusion once he finally meets Daisy after five years. He discovers that Daisy's voice is "full of money" and is disappointed to learn that she has a meaningful history with Tom Buchanan. The fact that Daisy has a child and is only concerned about being financially secure is disappointing to Jay Gatsby, who desperately believes that he could recreate the past.
Through Gatsby's actions and discoveries, the audience gains insight into the futility of trying to recreate the past. Rather than accepting reality and not viewing the past with such nostalgia, Gatsby obsesses about Daisy, only considered her positive qualities and failing to accurately perceive her true nature. In the end, Gatsby fails to accept the fact that Daisy will not leave Tom and continues to hold onto the false hope that Gatsby will spend the rest of his life with her.