InsaneJournal

Greetings, fellow residents of The Island.

There have been many deaths and disappearances here lately, as well as many new arrivals. And now, of course, many of us find ourselves literally tied to another person. I feel as though the Island is trying to teach us something, and in many ways, we are failing the lesson.

We're all in this together. If we can try to put aside our personal prejudices and work with one another, learn each other's strengths- I think that we can really make a go of this. I'm a hopeless optimist, I know, it's well documented.

But, let me start. I'm willing to be honest with everyone here, and I really hope that you will consider returning the gesture.



My name is Jay Gatsby. And there is the first lie. I changed my name when I was seventeen, choosing the name Jay Gatsby because it is- what I would consider more American, whereas my birth name always singled me out as a Jew. My name is James Gatz, or Jimmy Gatz. I was born in 1890, and I am now 32. Although when I arrived on this island I was already a millionaire at home, I am from humble beginnings. My parents are Eastern European immigrants, and I grew up on an unsuccessful farm in North Dakota with absolutely nothing.

As I say, I left at seventeen and changed my name. I worked for a millionaire, sailing around the world, collecting jewels- he taught me everything I know, including how to behave like a gentleman. Unfortunately, I was cheated out of his inheritance by some technicalities, so I ended up back where I began.

Then came the Great War. Some of you seem to know this as World War 1, which suggests there have been others, but I know nothing of that. I was a commissioned officer in the war, a machine gunner, and every allied government gave me a declaration.

As a solider, I met a nice girl- or someone who I thought was a nice girl- named Daisy Buchanan. Many of you on this island judge her harshly based on a novel, and I have judged her harshly myself. But I can tell you that I loved her, and she loved me back. But you see, I was penniless and a Jew, so she could not marry me, even though she wanted to. By the time I returned from the war, she was married to a wealthy man- a woman-beating racist, as it happens. And I wanted her to leave him, and be with me, so I turned myself into the type of gentleman that she could marry. Gatsby not Gatz, millionaire not penniless.

I made my millions illegally as a sort of bootlegger. I ran a series of drug stores selling bootlegged alcohol over the counter, and it wasn't always- decent work.

I had an affair with Daisy- although truthfully, it didn't feel as though I was the Other Man until the end. In our hearts, we were the ones who should be married, but society was different then.

I was murdered, I was shot in the back, and when I woke up, I was on this island.



As for what I can do to contribute to this island- I can farm. Although my family weren't successful, it was due to the dry earth, not a lack of skill. I can make alcohol. I can mix cocktails. I throw a brilliant party, really. I am capable of doing any form of manual labour- construction, cleaning, driving- anything you need help moving or fixing- I can certainly give it a try. I can fire a gun, I can hunt, I can teach you the Charleston. I can teach you to swim. I can teach Hebrew.

I have a car here if anyone needs a ride. I have a swimming pool that you can all feel free to use at any time, although please take care of yourselves and each other. I have a large house, with many rooms, many clothes and a library of books- anything you need, just ask, it's yours. I have a hydroplane, if it is helpful with search and rescue.

If there is anything you want to know about me, or if there is anything you want to request of me, ask away. I spent so much of my life trying to be someone else, trying to be what a rich girl's family expected of me, that I had forgotten who I really was. I don't want that anymore, I want to be an open book here. I won't judge anyone, and I hope that I won't be judged for being honest with you all now.

Now, if you like, it's your turn.