The
Power of the past in the novel
There is a big mystery
around Gatsby`s past. The visitors of his parties love to chat about it, they
love to spread wild rumours about his life and his career in illegal
businesses. They really don`t care if he had a wealthy or a poor upbringing,
the just like the idea of knowing a famous man. Gatsby doesn´t stop that
gossip, he doesn`t tell much about himself besides people he gets to know
better like Nick. And so Nick gets to know how much the past means to Gatsby.
In the past he had that ideal picture of a lovestory, his time with Daisy
before he had to join the army in the war. These were probably his happiest
moments. And somehow the idea got fixed in his mind that if he could get back
everything like it was at that time before it would be perfect again. He just
wants to win Daisy back and he doesn`t consider that time changes people, their
emotions and their character traits. He also doesn`t realize that maybe Daisy
isn`t that adorable lady his lovesick mind made her in his loneliness.
We
learn more about Gatsby`s youth at his own funeral when his father shows Nick
the schedule and the aims of the young boy written down in one of his books.
This tells us about Gatsby`s ambition and determination, his will to live the
American Dream.
The Great Gatsby
Nick Carraway moves to
New York to get a job as a stock brocker. He finds a small house on Long
Island, an expensive area where rich people live. Next to his home lays the big
mansion of Jay Gatsby. Opposite the bay Nick`s cousin Daisy lives with her
husband Tom Buchanan. Tom is having an mistress and he isn`t making a big
secret out of it. Everybody seems to know. He even introduces his lover Myrtle,
who is married to poor gas-station owner Wilson, to Nick. Jay Gatsby seems to
be a big mystery, everybody tells different stories about him. Most of the
people think he got wealthy by illegal business. Although he gives big partys
every weekend, he doesnt seem to have many friends. Nick gets to know him
better and one day Gatsby asks him to arrange a meeting with his cousin Daisy.
They turn out to be former lovers. When Gatsby, who was poor at that time, had
to join the army, Daisy wasn`t able to wait for him and married Tom Buchanan,
blended by his money. When Gatsby heard that, he started to believe that
becoming as rich as possible would bring him Daisy back. He made his big
fortune through bootlegging. Now, as they meet again, they continue their
romance but they have to realize that it will never be the same like before.
And it all ends in a big tragedy when Daisy and Gatsby drive home from New York
and pass Wilson`s gas-station. Myrtle runs out of the house towards the car in
which she expects Tom and the car crashes into her. She is dead. The car, that
is droven by Daisy, leaves abruptly. Wilson, who only knows the color of the
car, begins to search the whole neighbourhood for it and its owner. Finally he
gets to Gatsby`s mansion, finds the car and shoots first Gatsby and then
himself.
Symbols in "The Great Gatsby"
The light
Opposite
Gatsby`s mansion across the bay lays the Buchanan`s house. Late in the evening
when Gatsby stands at the beach and glances into their direction, he can see a
green light constantly shining the whole night guiding boats safely to the
Buchanan`s dock. This light is a symbol for Gatsby, a symbol of hope, a symbol
for his aim, his love. It guides him to Daisy, it tells him she is not far away
and that he is only one step away from his aim.
The eyes
Wilson`s gas-station
lays in the wasteland between Long Island and Manhattan. It`s a depressing
area. The only remarkable object there is the advertisement of an optician. It
shows two big eyes wearing glasses. For Wilson they are a symbol for God. He
tells Myrtle that she maybe can fool him, but she can`t fool God because he
watches them all the time.
