Where do I begin? The Great Gatsby has been a jumble of events that ultimately shook me forever; you can always tell that you've enjoyed a book when you're left thinking about it on sleepless nights. What I realized in the very end was that "a dream is a wish your heart makes", and the material gains are simply ways of keeping score. The American Dream is abstract. While we can get close to it, it is impossible to attain our desires without wanting more. Likewise, it is simply impossible to turn back time and rewrite history (unless, of course, you're Stalin).
Gatsby, a poor Westerner, moved to the East years ago in order to make his fortune in New York City, a name which has become synonymous with the American Dream. He comes into the acquaintance of a "nice girl", and obsessively makes her his goal to attain. Because Daisy is so glamourous and the "it girl", she in effect becomes linked to Gatsby's dream. In some corner of his heart, Gatsby understands that he can never get Daisy, yet he uses her as his raison d'être and begins to rise up, trying to achieve everything that he never had before. He creates a new persona for himself in all of the colors he wants to use, presenting himself as an ideal character who has it all.
However, Gatsby has been living in the past for so many years that when he
finally gets his golden girl, he realizes that it's not the same as five
years ago; Daisy has moved on and the situation is different. There is nothing left for Gatsby because his idealistic past has gone by, and he can't prepare himself for the future. Unlike the classic Humbert who has destroyed his dream, Gatsby has been destroyed by his. Overall, The Great Gatsby has been a novel of lost dreams and hopes, with romance and partying tossed in for seasoning; it is a representation of our society and our American Dream. Gatsby becomes the romantic hero because he has grown so attached to his innocent wishes that he can't expose them to the hard, cruel reality, resulting in his ultimate downfall.
Like Zarrin states, "Anyway, I enjoyed reading it, and that counts too, can't you see?"
Annie! I loved your post! I like how you comment on Gatsby creating his persona out of color.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your characterization of Gatsby. It was very insightful and I liked how you said "the material gains are simply ways of keeping score". Throughout the book, Gatsby doesn't face reality until near the end when Daisy turns from an abstract goal to a concrete being. Then he realizes he would never be able to attain his American dream. Yet, he never gives up hope, which makes his death prideful. Nice post! :)
ReplyDeleteI liked reading your post, there is so many ways to view this novel! I also really liked your first sentence, I love the word choices!
ReplyDeleteI loved your concluding sentence! I agree, the fun in reading should be taken into account too, not just the literary criticism and interpretative analysis. Raison d'etre!:) Amazing diction, as always.
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