Now don't get me wrong, I love Gatby he's a hopeless romantic, but his grit (my English teacher would be proud) helped him rise from the ashes. He came from nothing and became a man who had it all. In other words, you choose your fate. Someone told Gatbsy that poor boys don't marry rich girls, but he didn't see that as a ditch in a path. He simply found a way around it. The movie mentions a green light at the end of a dock. In the novel, Nick concludes by talking about the light in terms of boats using the green light as sort of a landmark. The boats row forward toward the light, as the currents take them back. This metaphor is actually about people, society, acheiving goals. We want to escape the past and struggle to make our dreams a reality, the way Gatsby wanted to make all his dreams reality, Daisy, happiness, the American dream.
Speaking a little about society, Daisy says something in regards to her daughter: "I hope she'll be a fool- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." This line refers to Daisy and her conformity to the society she lived in. The intelligence of a woman was not valued. In her world, a woman's greatest accomplishment was money, marriage, and pleasure. Another main theme to the movie, which I didn't mind was that life is a celebration, but I did learn 2 very important points. One being, that money can't buy happiness and two, the importance of friendship. Gatsby had it all, and he wanted to give Daisy the world but he mentions being "empty". He also mentioned how he filled the enormous house with people so it would feel less empty. He had the world but no one to share it with, the money wasn't the issue. His life had no meaning. This brings me to the final point of friendship. Seeing how at his funeral, not a single one of his so-called "friends" showed up other than Nick could bring tears to your eyes. Wolfsheim also said: "Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead." Nick showed true friendship towards Gatsby and it shows us how to be great friends. Regret is something that people usually feel after a friend has passed. We tend to think of things we should have said or should have done, but didn't. Take advantage of having those people around while they're still here. Go out to dinner, go dancing, play board games, go to the beach, spend a night in, anything you'd like but enjoy every second of life with the people you love most. But also don't assume people know how you feel. When was the last time you told someone you loved them, or care, or that you appreciate them? If we all sat around thinking about it, it may have been a while ago. Again, appreciate life to the fullest, appreciate the people in your life to the fullest and appreciate the time you have with them to the fullest.
This little analysis became a little longer than I would have thought but you all get the point. These are MY personal thoughts and opinions of a few quotes and metaphor in "The Great Gatsby". Feel free to comment, suggest or discuss what you all think too.
Love always,
Aly AllyKat
