Book #17: The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"

Fitzgerald's classic 1925 novel brings back memories of high school English classes, for better and worse. Really, the only downside to reading such a book in class was the focus on what became maybe the most lingering example of symbolism I can remember: the watchful eyes on the side of the garage of George Wilson. It is ultimately these sorts of inane details that bored me in an English classroom that was almost never actually boring. Far more interesting, in my mind, was the explanation of the wistfulness that enhances- and at the same time curses- the human condition. Before I pontificate, the quick synopsis of another book I read on the Asia trip...

Nick Carraway, the story's narrator, moves to Long Island in an attempt to make it in the bond market of New York. His cousin- Daisy Buchanan- helps to incorporate him into the local social scene, though it is ultimately a rager at his neighbor's mansion that draws his attention. His mysterious neighbor (Gatsby) spends time throwing these lavish parties despite not taking part in them. As we come to learn, this is done as a means of conveying to Daisy that he is a successful, rich man who is capable of taking care of her. Meanwhile, Tom's affair with Myrtle Wilson appears to be common knowledge, though nothing is really done about it, since security goes a long way in the matter of substituting for happiness. As things come into the open, the true sorrow of the book is exposed. If for whatever reason you haven't read The Great Gatsby, stop reading this and pick it up. A spoiler alert is coming, and I wouldn't want to ruin this great piece of work for anyone.


Alright? Good. Now, the tragedy of Gatsby is that.......................................

SPOILER ALERT





..........................he is left as defeated as any man has ever been before he meets his demise. Gatsby- like anyone who has ever felt the feeling- is driven by love, and in the course of that pursuit, of course he engages in less-than-reputable things (bootlegging, in this case, and associating with disreputable characters). The saddest- and most identifiable- part of all of this is that, for those of us who have ever been there, been on the short end of unrequited love, the rest of what you do can seem hollow. The notion that Gatsby would not take part in the downright epic revelry that becomes associated with his parties seems mystifying, but is explained soon enough over the course of the story.

See, Gatsby's love for Daisy Buchanan had started long before her current marriage to her husband, Tom. Over the course of a war and time apart, however, things change. The pursuit to rebuild something that has faded (rather than been broken. Big difference...) is ultimately fruitless, as the comfort of the known and the security that it provides causes Daisy to ultimately stay with Tom. It is THIS concept- not symbolism- that is the most striking aspect of what is ultimately a very enjoyable read, worthy of study and mandated reading, if with just a twist.