Gatsby's Secret: War Rumors and True Identity

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby*, rumors swirl around Gatsby, painting him as a German spy, a relative of Kaiser Wilhelm, even a murderer. These rumors, fueled by intense anti-German sentiment during the era, could have destroyed his life. The novel later reveals Gatsby's true identity as a WWI veteran, highlighting the persecution and injustice faced by German-Americans at the time. Many were arrested and imprisoned, even interned in camps, based on unfounded accusations.