Great Gatsby's Death
In the novel The Great Gatsby written by Scott Fitzgerald, Gatsby seems to be misusing the past in order to enliven the present. The book is set in the early twenties after World War 1 when many writers were losing faith in America. I think that Nick is more of a candidate of the “Lost Generation,” rather than Gatsby because Nick finds it “impossible to remember,” (110) while Gatsby keeps hope of having Daisy as his own. What Nick is trying to remember is a story of true love. But Gatsby has love memories of the past before the war that were important and fond to him. That is why he kept them so close to his heart. The past is haunting Gatsby and preventing him from moving on. In the end, it actually causes Gatsby’s death.
The memories from
many years ago brought a hope for Gatsby that one day he and Daisy would fall in love again. Gatsby remembers the love that he and Daisy shared when they met in during the first years of the war. He holds this one short month they had together to be greater than the twelve years Tom and Daisy have been married. Even when Daisy confesses her love for Gatsby, he still cannot handle the fact that she once “loved” Tom. Daisy honestly did not love any man, she only loved money. “I love you-isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.” (Fitzgerald 132). Daisy brings up that the past cannot be changed, but Gatsby has an entirely different opinion that the past should be remembered.
Gatsby believes that money is the key in reliving the past he had with Daisy. He throws elaborate parties to get Daisy’s attention. “Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves,” (150). Gatsby seems to confuse “youth and misery” with history which leads him to believe that the short time they shared together is equivalent to what she and Tom have now. The luxurious and lavish parties that Gatsby hosts at his mansion are to show off the money he has so that Daisy will come back to him. Many would not like the idea of money being the deciding factor of love, but I think deep down Gatsby knew Daisy enough to know her selfish love of money, so he does not care about the realness of her love.
Although Gatsby and Daisy have been spending the last five years living completely separate lives without interaction, he wants nothing more than to go back to Louisville, where they first met and fell in love, to marry. “One of them was that, after she was free they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house- just as if it were five years ago” (109). This thought of Gatsby’s is selfish because he is not considerate of the fact that Daisy has a child and husband and a life that she would have to leave. Gatsby, however, does not seem to care, and just wants Daisy to come running back to him. He is mainly focused on reliving history, because he never moved on five years ago. Nick tells Gatsby that “you can’t repeat the past” (110). Gatsby’s view on the past was clear. Gatsby’s response to what Nick says was “of course you can!” This is what was torturing Gatsby during the present. He expects Daisy to love him like he remembers her in the past. The past is the past and cannot be replicated. Gatsby has a hard time with this reality.
The memories from
many years ago brought a hope for Gatsby that one day he and Daisy would fall in love again. Gatsby remembers the love that he and Daisy shared when they met in during the first years of the war. He holds this one short month they had together to be greater than the twelve years Tom and Daisy have been married. Even when Daisy confesses her love for Gatsby, he still cannot handle the fact that she once “loved” Tom. Daisy honestly did not love any man, she only loved money. “I love you-isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.” (Fitzgerald 132). Daisy brings up that the past cannot be changed, but Gatsby has an entirely different opinion that the past should be remembered.
Gatsby believes that money is the key in reliving the past he had with Daisy. He throws elaborate parties to get Daisy’s attention. “Gatsby was overwhelmingly aware of the youth and mystery that wealth imprisons and preserves,” (150). Gatsby seems to confuse “youth and misery” with history which leads him to believe that the short time they shared together is equivalent to what she and Tom have now. The luxurious and lavish parties that Gatsby hosts at his mansion are to show off the money he has so that Daisy will come back to him. Many would not like the idea of money being the deciding factor of love, but I think deep down Gatsby knew Daisy enough to know her selfish love of money, so he does not care about the realness of her love.
Although Gatsby and Daisy have been spending the last five years living completely separate lives without interaction, he wants nothing more than to go back to Louisville, where they first met and fell in love, to marry. “One of them was that, after she was free they were to go back to Louisville and be married from her house- just as if it were five years ago” (109). This thought of Gatsby’s is selfish because he is not considerate of the fact that Daisy has a child and husband and a life that she would have to leave. Gatsby, however, does not seem to care, and just wants Daisy to come running back to him. He is mainly focused on reliving history, because he never moved on five years ago. Nick tells Gatsby that “you can’t repeat the past” (110). Gatsby’s view on the past was clear. Gatsby’s response to what Nick says was “of course you can!” This is what was torturing Gatsby during the present. He expects Daisy to love him like he remembers her in the past. The past is the past and cannot be replicated. Gatsby has a hard time with this reality.