The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, tells a story about Gatsby, about American’s pursuing money and enjoyment in Jazz Age, and makes introspection of the spirit crisis which exists in the reality and ostentation and the disillusionment of American Dream. Lady Daisy broke with Gatsby, and married with Tom because of his wealth. Although Gatsby’s heart never changed, Daisy still abandoned him, and Gatsby died miserably at last.
After reading this book, I don’t want to make any comments on the decline of the American dream in the 1920s, it just too deep and heavy for me to understand. I will share some of my own opinions. Actually I don’t understand Gatsby’s greatness. I just saw his blindness of love instead of greatness. He is a capable man indeed, he changed his life with his effort, and he is no longer a poor guy but a wealthy businessman. I really adore his courage! Besides his adorable ability, what impressed me most is his attitude towards promise; he did love Daisy after such a long time and work hard for her.
Unfortunately, Gatsby is too idealistic. He keeps chasing after Daisy, trusting that with his wealth, he can redeem his lost love and repeat the past. However, he is wrong. He misreads Daisy, a shallow and miserly woman; he misreads the society, which is dazzling superficially but empty in minds. He keeps living in his dream instead of facing the reality. As a result, he is abandoned by Daisy, snubbed by the society and finally makes as irretrievable mistake. I feel pity about Gatsby.
If he realized earlier that Daisy actually didn’t care about him, maybe he wouldn’t die. Compared with Gatsby, I am fonder of Nick, the dramatic narrator. I do think that Nick is suited to narrating the whole story because of his temperament. He is tolerant, open-minded, quiet, and a good listener. Moreover, Nick generally assumes a secondary role throughout the novel, preferring to describe and comment on events rather than dominate the action, which gives me a feeling that he functions as Fitzgerald’s voice.
As Nick plays a role inside the narrative, he evidences a strongly mixed reaction to life on the East Coast, one that creates a powerful internal conflict that he does not resolve until the end of the story. On the one hand, Nick is attracted to the fast-paced, fun-driven lifestyle of New York. On the other hand, he finds that lifestyle grotesque and damaging. Nick can realize that the fast life of revelry on the East Coast is a cover for the terrifying moral emptiness and can stick to his own views. That is why I am fond of him.
