Who is the “Owl-Eyed Man” and what is he so fascinated by in Gatsby’s library?
Answer: The Owl-Eyed Man is a character from <em>the Great Gatsby</em>. He is fascinated because the books in Gatsby's library are real.
Explanation:
The Owl-Eyed Man is a character from Fitzgerald's novel <em>the Great Gatsby</em>. We never learn his real name, but we do find out that he is middle-aged and wears enormous owl-eyed spectacles.
Owl Eyes and Nick stumble across each other at Gatsby's party. Owl Eyes is surprised that the books in Gatsby's library are real. Since he knows that Gatsby is pretending to be someone he is not, he believed that Gatsby must have put cardboard imitations on the shelves. He is fascinated by the actual effort Gatsby put in projecting an image of himself. The Owl-Eyed Man knows that Gatsby is not being honest, but does not judge him for that. He even admires Gatsby for creating such a great illusion.
Could Fitzgerald be using him as a symbol for the concern he (Fitzgerald) had for the state of the “modern world” during the 1920’s?
Answer:
The novel is set in 1922, at the beginning of a decade known in the United States as ''the Roaring Twenties''. This time period was characterized by increased spending, new styles of dressing and new music genres. Back then, people rejected traditional values and spent time dancing and attending parties. Many Americans spent a fortune on expensive clothes.
Fitzgerald makes us see the world through the eyes of the "Owl-Eyed Man''. It could be argued that, in this way, he criticizes the state in the society in 1920s. People bought expensive goods only to impress other people. Instead of focusing on their inner happiness, it seems that people only cared about how others perceived them. This is particularly seen in Gatsby's character. Gatsby wants to present himself as an educated man who earned his wealth through hard work, even though he did not even graduate from Oxford, and only spent five weeks there. Moreover, it is possible that he was engaged in criminal activities, and thus earned the money. Although he feels empty inside, Gatsby wants other people to recognize his success and wealth.
