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| Fitzgerald, F. Scott: The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald, F. Scott: The Great Gatsby
The Power of the past in the
novel
There is a big mystery around Gatsby´s past. The
visitors of his parties love to chat about it, they love to spread wild rumours
about his life and his career in illegal businesses. They really don´t care
if he had a wealthy or a poor upbringing, the just like the idea of knowing a
famous man. Gatsby doesn´t stop that gossip, he doesn´t tell much
about himself besides people he gets to know better like Nick. And so Nick gets
to know how much the past means to Gatsby. In the past he had that ideal picture
of a lovestory, his time with Daisy before he had to join the army in the war.
These were probably his happiest moments. And somehow the idea got fixed in his
mind that if he could get back everything like it was at that time before it
would be perfect again. He just wants to win Daisy back and he doesn´t
consider that time changes people, their emotions and their character traits. He
also doesn´t realize that maybe Daisy isn´t that adorable lady his
lovesick mind made her in his loneliness.
We learn more about Gatsby´s youth at his own funeral when his father shows
Nick the schedule and the aims of the young boy written down in one of his
books. This tells us about Gatsby´s ambition and determination, his will to
live the American Dream.
The Great Gatsby
Nick Carraway moves to New York to get a job as a stock
brocker. He finds a small house on Long Island, an expensive area where rich
people live. Next to his home lays the big mansion of Jay Gatsby. Opposite the
bay Nick´s cousin Daisy lives with her husband Tom Buchanan. Tom is having
an mistress and he isn´t making a big secret out of it. Everybody seems to
know. He even introduces his lover Myrtle, who is married to poor gas-station
owner Wilson, to Nick. Jay Gatsby seems to be a big mystery, everybody tells
different stories about him. Most of the people think he got wealthy by illegal
business. Although he gives big partys every weekend, he doesnt seem to have
many friends. Nick gets to know him better and one day Gatsby asks him to
arrange a meeting with his cousin Daisy. They turn out to be former lovers. When
Gatsby, who was poor at that time, had to join the army, Daisy wasn´t able
to wait for him and married Tom Buchanan, blended by his money. When Gatsby
heard that, he started to believe that becoming as rich as possible would bring
him Daisy back. He made his big fortune through bootlegging. Now, as they meet
again, they continue their romance but they have to realize that it will never
be the same like before. And it all ends in a big tragedy when Daisy and Gatsby
drive home from New York and pass Wilson´s gas-station. Myrtle runs out of
the house towards the car in which she expects Tom and the car crashes into her.
She is dead. The car, that is droven by Daisy, leaves abruptly. Wilson, who only
knows the color of the car, begins to search the whole neighbourhood for it and
its owner. Finally he gets to Gatsby´s mansion, finds the car and shoots
first Gatsby and then himself.
Symbols in „The Great Gatsby“
The light
Opposite Gatsby´s mansion across the bay lays the
Buchanan´s house. Late in the evening when Gatsby stands at the beach and
glances into their direction, he can see a green light constantly shining the
whole night guiding boats safely to the Buchanan´s dock. This light is a
symbol for Gatsby, a symbol of hope, a symbol for his aim, his love. It guides
him to Daisy, it tells him she is not far away and that he is only one step away
from his aim.
The eyes
Wilson´s gas-station lays in the wasteland between
Long Island and Manhattan. It´s a depressing area. The only remarkable
object there is the advertisement of an optician. It shows two big eyes wearing
glasses. For Wilson they are a symbol for God. He tells Myrtle that she maybe
can fool him, but she can´t fool God because he watches them all the
time.
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