The Great Gatsby shows what it is like being a rich, lonely young man in the midst of the roaring 20s, living just across the river from his old flame. Nick is someone who has admired Gatsby for his wealth and success. Gatsby is a wealthy young man who lives in a mansion along the river: even though he surrounds himself with many famous and fun people, he feels empty and only longs after one girl, Daisy, his ex across the river. Daisy and Gatsby dated before Gatsby went to fight in World War I. He had written to her while fighting; however, after the war, Daisy suddenly stopped receiving the letters. Daisy had to move on, she got one last letter from Gatsby; she later found out his intentions to reenter her life. The past is sometimes better left untouched. Is it worth Jay Gatsby fighting to rekindle the past? Or should he just let go of the past and move on with his life?
The character development of Nick Carraway was not entirely necessary to further the plot of the book. The book opens with a critical piece of information to Nick Carraway’s development, “In my younger more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone’...’ just remember that all people in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had.’” Throughout The Great Gatsby, this idea is hinted at several different times: in actuality, the inverse of the idea was demonstrated. Nick took an immediate liking to Gatsby while he had a strong aversion towards Tom. After this point is stated the information following is irrelevant to the story. Nick states that he from a prominent family in the midwestern United States and that the wealth and line “descended from the Dukes of Buccleuch.” Nick stated, “the actual founder of my line was my grandfather’s brother, who came here in fifty-one, sent a substitute to the Civil War, and started the wholesale hardware business”. Again, this never ends up playing back into the plot. Since Nick’s and his family’s beginnings are never used to provide backing to a later part in the book, why was it included in the book? When Nick is invited to and starts attending Gatsby’s parties he makes note of the guests: in total there were seven paragraphs of useless descriptions. These descriptions are used in this context to show the excessive nature of Gatsby’s parties: though it demonstrates that point this could have been done in a more efficient, captivating way. Perhaps setting the scene by describing the overwhelming amount of intoxicated people singing and dancing with the world-class entertainment provided to them at Gatsby’s expense may have done a better job with captivating the audience and keeping them engaged.
The Great Gatsby has a lot to say about the upper-class society and their indulgent tendencies. Gatsby is portrayed as a mysterious and lonely bachelor: he hosted some of the most well-liked parties yet nobody seemed to know who he was exactly. Many of the guests spread rumors about what kind of person he was “There’s something funny about a fellow that’ll do a thing like that,” said the other girl eagerly. “He doesn’t want any trouble with anybody.”“Who doesn’t?” I inquired. “Gatsby. Somebody told me ——” The two girls and Jordan leaned together confidentially.“Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once. ”A thrill passed over all of us. The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly. “I don’t think it’s so much that,” argued Lucille sceptically; “it’s more that he was a German spy during the war. ”One of the men nodded in confirmation. “I heard that from a man who knew all about him, grew up with him in Germany,” he assured us positively. “Oh, no,” said the first girl, “it couldn’t be that, because he was in the American army during the war.” As our credulity switched back to her she leaned forward with enthusiasm. “You look at him sometimes when he thinks nobody’s looking at him. I’ll bet he killed a man.” Instead of spending their time making new friends and making light-hearted conversation, they spread rumors and lies about their host. In today’s world, this is seen everywhere: there are so many stories out there of celebrities going to parties, getting in fights, and spreading false rumors. This is unfortunately very present in today’s politics. This toxic environment leads to other problems. Chasing after something one may never reach is very common. Daisy was Gatsby’s pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: Gatsby fought to rekindle his past with Daisy after about five years. She was married to Tom but in her heart she still loved Gatsby. He knew this but expected too much of her: Gatsby wanted Daisy to admit that she never loved Tom. “ ‘I’ve got something to tell you, old sport ——’ began Gatsby. But Daisy guessed at his intention. “Please don’t!” she interrupted helplessly. “Please let’s all go home. Why don’t we all go home?” “That’s a good idea.” I got up. “Come on, Tom. Nobody wants a drink.” “I want to know what Mr. Gatsby has to tell me.” “Your wife doesn’t love you,” said Gatsby. “She’s never loved you. She loves me.” “You must be crazy!” exclaimed Tom automatically. Gatsby sprang to his feet, vivid with excitement. “She never loved you, do you hear?” he cried. “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved any one except me!” At this moment Gatsby went off on Tom he started to shout and expose all of his past with Daisy, then he looked at Daisy and told her to say that she never loved Tom out loud. “Not that day I carried you down from the Punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry?” There was a husky tenderness in his tone.. .. “Daisy?” “Please don’t.” Her voice was cold, but the rancor was gone from it. She looked at Gatsby. “There, Jay,” she said — but her hand as she tried to light a cigarette was trembling. Suddenly she threw the cigarette and the burning match on the carpet. “Oh, you want too much!” she cried to Gatsby. “I love you now — isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.” She began to sob helplessly. “I did love him once — but I loved you too.” Gatsby’s eyes opened and closed. This was the harsh reality that was faced. This was the moment where Gatsby was hit with the hard truth, that he would never have all of Daisy’s heart. Chasing her for all these years to get her to admit that fact, completely backfired on him, leaving Gatsby humiliated. When people take the final step to get the end result it often goes unrewarded, failing their journey for satisfaction.
Understanding the world of others in different social and economic classes is relevant in today’s society. Many modern problems may not be as new as meets the eye: The Great Gatsby is a great book for showing teenagers the cost of unreasonable ambitions. Gatsby atrophied so much of his life to win over the heart of Daisy, which he only ever held what, in the grand scheme of time,was only ever a few seconds, that when she didn’t love him in whole he had nothing else to live for.