F. Scott Fitzgerald has made a real masterpiece here. Out of all the books so far, I think I liked this one best and not because it was only 180 pages and not 500 pages. We see in this novel the sad truth that if you are popular it does not necessarily mean that the people you are around really like you, though. This book was very interesting as well from when Nick Carraway goes over to Tom and Daisy's house at the start of the novel to how Tom is cheating on Daisy to the funeral of Jay Gatsby at the end of the novel. It had quite an interesting twist in the ending because I do not believe that anybody was guessing that Gatsby was going to die. This is why the character I found most interesting was of course Jay Gatsby since you could say he was the most important person in the novel.
Gatsby is a rich man who throws huge parties every weekend, and people show up who he has no idea who they are. His life is full of mysteries of what his actual business is to why he is friends with the man who rigged the World Series. His name it not even Jay Gatsby. Even still, the most interesting thing about him in this novel is his love of Daisy Buchanan. After five years apart, he still pursues after her even though she is married. He even dies because of Daisy since she actually ran over Mrs. Wilson, not him. In my opinion, I wish Gatsby would have won over and gotten Daisy because Tom did not love her. He had a mistress in Mrs. Wilson. Tom did not even seem to care for his wife until Gatsby showed feelings for her. I believe Gatsby was a good man that deserved better in life. He had everything a man could dream for except the love and his life and he died without her.
I believe there are many themes in this novel, but the one that stood out to me the most is what I said earlier in this blog. Even though you throw the best parties and you seem to be the most popular person there ever could be, it does not mean that people like you and care for you. You see this with Gatsby's funeral. Only his true friend, Nick Carraway, shows up along with Gatsby's father, that is all. Gatsby's parties attracted hundreds of people who would stay at his house for countless hours and none of those people showed up for his funeral. Not even his true love, Daisy, shows up to his funeral. I think this is really sad. Gatsby really leaves a lasting impression on Nick that he will never forget in this novel. Gatsby was just a man looking to rekindle the love he once had with Daisy and sadly he dies trying.
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I too wished Gatsby won Daisy over. I didn't see it coming when Gatsby died. I liked how you explored the theme of popularity. I didn't even think that as a theme until you mentioned it. The main theme that stood out for me however was the theme about a persons dreams and the struggles to achieve those dreams. Did you think that was an important theme?
ReplyDeleteYa I believe that that is also a theme because Gatsby's dream was to win over Daisy. Gatsby strived and struggled to this dream, but he never achieved it thanks to Mr. Wilson.
ReplyDeleteI too thought that everyone in this book seemed to be dishonest. I disliked Tom Buchanan the most out of this whole book! Him and his wife Daisy, they both seemed to have no care what other peoples feelings were. Daisy just kept going after running over a women!! Who would be able to do that? And Tom, he cheats on his wife and finally when she starts to have feelings for Gatsby, he acts like he cares so much about her.
ReplyDeleteI also thought this one was the best book so far, its shorter and sweeter.
ReplyDeleteI'm back! I would suggest a similar yet slighlty more complex explanation of your statement in paragraph two. We are more in love with desire than the desired. Later Hawthorne will say something similar by saying that love and hate are essentially the same emotions.
ReplyDeleteYou talk a lot about themes from each novel. I would love to see a paper written about the themes from the novels and how each connects to the other. The idea of popularity is interesting. Gatsby was popular, but not liked because people did not know him. That was, however, by his choice. This books shows how shallow people can be and can help the reader see that in themself, hopefully.
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