The Great Gatsby Review7/25/2022
Gatsby's story is quite complicated. A class man, who lives in a large mansion, a person full of secrets and with thousands of regrets from his past and younger life, which he now tries to placate through parties in the gossiping societies where he shares with people he knows and others that he had never seen in his life. A true lover of literature and sports as much as the old school, a person with whom it is very easy to identify because of the characteristics that he presents while the story unfolds, the ambition, the loneliness that sometimes surrounded him, in addition to the memories that sometimes tormented him, reminding him of a past life that he already left behind and that now it is trying to overcome as a way to make a difference. Nick, tells us a story that I saw a bit choppy between different events that in the end generated a great view of what was the life of gatsby, in search of new friendships and reconnecting with old loves, small actions that little by little took them to different places in the United States in 1920. In a timeline we can see how at first we thought we were facing a story in which the main character is going to be Nick, who is going to visit his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom. Thus meeting the first two characters apart from the narrator, characters we see in a life a bit full of excess and hypocrisy for Tom, and a miserable life for Daisy.
The final proof that money cannot buy happiness in any case. Then we see how Tom invites Nick to a party at Gatsby's house, at this point Tom becomes an impossible character to love when he shows up at the party with his lover Myrtle; and it is at this point that a series of events begin to unfold. In these small trips we met new characters and what could previously be considered their secrets, shared among friends. At first we can come to think that the story is divided into the lives of the many characters that participate in it, but as it progresses we see how everything is outlined little by little, leaving in the story three main characters such as Daisy , Gatsby and Nick; with a lot of antagonists as Myrtle and her husband, and Tom, all blinded by love, begins to act out of impulsiveness, anger and sadness. The only one who deviates from this little battle is Nick, who decides to tell what happened from outside the scandal, but without neglecting Gatsby, who is now like a friend to him. In general, we could say that this story wants to recreate the life of an average American, a person involved in parties and whose life as such is a great mystery, but also people with great feelings inside that they seek to share with others, and some others who fail in the attempt. 2. Review by Kiara Azuma “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a historical-fiction novel set in the 1920s in America. Nick Carraway witnesses the riches and glamorous parties that are held in the West Egg. At the same time, Nick views the parties and riches with judgment, mirroring the views of the Lost Generation and how materialistic America was in the 1920s/Jazz Age. The story is written from Nick’s point of view, as he is introduced to this mysterious, millionaire figure named Jay Gatsby. Once acquainted as neighbors, Nick is invited to more parties in Gatsby’s wealthy home and surrounds himself with characters such as Daisy, Tom, and Jordan. Throughout the novel, Nick learns of Gatsby’s undying love for Daisy and his attempts to win Daisy’s love back. Fitzgerald brings the readers to the Jazz Age by utilizing many descriptive languages and imagery to set the scene of the 1920s. Through Nick’s point of view, not only do the readers imagine the glamor, they are able to witness the faults of wealth which Nick disapproves of. Despite claiming to be an open-minded character, Nick expresses his disapproval of certain things in the lifestyles of wealthy people. While Nick is the narrator, he is perceived more of a side character, especially since the focus shifts more towards Gatsby. The Great Gatsby contains no perfect character. Everyone has their flaws, especially Gatsby. He is obsessed with having a relationship with Daisy, and rekindling the love they once had in the past, before Daisy married Tom. Gatsby refuses to let go of the past, yearning for a love with Daisy, similar to how people would not let go of the “American Dream” during that time period. He hosts parties in an effort to have Daisy attend one, and even creates a plan with Nick in the story to reunite with Daisy. His love comes into conflict with Tom, Daisy’s husband. He does not want Daisy and Gatsby together, despite being in an affair himself. Tom claims to love Daisy, but has a very open affair that is known by almost everyone, including Daisy. Daisy is depicted as charming and sweet, but slowly shows her flaws of being selfish and very materialistic. While Gatsby truly loves Daisy for who she is, Daisy loves Gatsby for his wealth. Even though Gatsby tries to do everything for Daisy, Daisy fails to return the same love back, ultimately leading to Gatsby’s downfall. The Great Gatsby was an interesting read, however it did take me a few chapters to get into the story. Many characters are introduced at once, and can be a bit confusing. However, once Gatsby is introduced and the story rolls out, it is more understandable and I was able to witness the different characters and their journeys and flaws. Many schools use The Great Gatsby as part of their curriculum. In my opinion, I find this to be a wonderful book to dissect in a classroom regarding characters and certain symbolism in the book. I think as a personal read, it might be a bit more difficult to understand and truly grasp the meaning of the book. However, I think it is a novel everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. The story leaves readers shocked, especially since it does contain an unexpected ending. The book is perfect for those who love historical reads, or want to read a book that is considered a “classic.” It allows readers to be a bit more informed regarding America in the 1920s, and the perception between materialistic wealth, and how money truly cannot always buy happiness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.Categories
All
Archives
May 2023
|