I found F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby to be very interesting as superficially it seems to be just another cliché romance novel about two people’s suppressed feelings for one another; but, delving into the true meaning of the book, it truly elaborates on one man’s obsession to prove not only to the world that he can work his way up the social ladder to the upper-class and that he is worthy of its wealth but also to himself. The characters depicted in the novel are all of great fascination, for each one is nothing like the other with their own goals in mind, specific quirks, and past histories whether of happiness or despair. The most fascinating of all though is Jay Gatsby. His seemingly all-knowing demeanor brought attention to his character from the first introduction at his own party to the last moments of him casually lounging in the pool, and still after that he seemed to linger. Perhaps my favorite aspect of The Great Gatsby was the fact that it was told not through the character of the title name, but of an original Westerner trying to find something provocative in the East. It added an essential point of view to the story that could have been depicted no other way. Overall as a piece of literature, Fitzgerald did well at conquering the language and manipulating it to tell his story.
I agree with you and your analysis of The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald did a great job of developing a character who seems to have a mysterious past but represents himself through a lavish lifestyle and his parties. As you mentioned, Gatsby had an "obsession to prove [himself] to the world." However, his ambitions were also primarily based on proving to Daisy that he is a rich, reliable, and worthy man. He devoted a lot of his time to do whatever it takes to win her over after she married Tom while he was at war.
ReplyDeleteI also liked that you pointed out the perspective of which the novel was written. Throughout The Great Gatsby, it was interesting to see the main subject of the story told from Nick Carraway's point of view. The novel was depicted in a unique way and Fitzgerald's use of language definitely aided the attention to Gatsby's character.
I also agree with what u said. It seemed at first to be a long drawn out love story between different people but then it turned out to be a story inside of a story with Gatsby's success story intertwined throughout the novel. I liked how you pointed out how Gatsby's character is established throughout the book starting from his lavish parties. I like how you interpreted the title and how Gatsby was really just another man looking to accomplish the "American Dream" except unlike many other people he actually accomplished this.
ReplyDeleteI believe that you were accurate when you stated that the true plot of the book is not just a love story but of a man's progression from the peasant into the aristocratic world. I also agree with what you stated about each character being unique and due to each of their little quirks throughout the story are more relatable to the reader. I am also fond of the way you pointed out the distinctive way how the novel is depicted from Nick Carraway's point of view of Gatsby's life story instead of having Gatsby tell it himself. Due to the variety of language used by Fitzgerald in his novel does indeed give more awareness of Gatsby's character and his goal to becoming a "self made" man.
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