Jay Gatsby left college after only two weeks because he was disillusioned with the experience and the social environment, feeling degraded due to his poverty.
Gatsby's brief stint at St. Olaf College was cut short by a combination of financial hardship and a deep-seated resentment towards the social stratification he observed and experienced.
The Immediate Circumstances
To afford his tuition and living expenses, Gatsby took on the demanding work of a janitor. This necessity, however, placed him in a position where he felt acutely aware of his humble origins among more privileged students.
Key Reasons for His Departure
Gatsby's decision to leave was driven by two primary factors:
- Feeling Looked Down Upon: He quickly grew tired of the pervasive social judgment and the feeling of being scorned simply because he was poor. This experience was deeply humiliating for him and clashed with his aspirations for a life of wealth and respect.
- Rejection of Conventional Success: Fundamentally, Gatsby rebelled against the traditional notion that higher education was the sole or best path for a man to improve himself and achieve success. His ambition and vision for self-betterment lay outside the conventional academic system, leading him to abandon college in pursuit of an alternative, more rapid ascent to prosperity and status.
His departure from college underscored his independent spirit and his determination to forge his own path, rather than conforming to societal expectations or enduring circumstances that diminished him.
