After reading“The Great Gatsby”
The pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired
---Thoughts after reading “The Great Gatsby”
I have heard of many comments about this book before-people describe it as classical, inspirational, and touching. There was once one of my classmates held the book named “The Great Gatsby”, and was indulged in it sneakily in class, and at that time, I wondered what the magic of the book is. Inspirational works are generally not my type, except this time I met this one-a whole new world was opened up in front of me.
The perspective of the book is interesting. We play the character of Nick in the book. From one side, Nick is an onlooker, watching Gatsby-the protagonist's life gradually leans closer to the tragedy; but from the other side, Nick is part of the stage as well, serving as Daisy’s cousin to be involved in this absurd imbroglio .I was wandering in the book from the first page to the last, and Gatsby turned from a wealthy mysterious neighbor to my pitiful friend. While there were no one would call me “old sport” , the only thing I can do was accompanying the great guy in the coffin although nobody else who used to party here had ever came.
At the end of the story, Nick added the word “great “before his name, just because he was worthy of the word.
Gatsby’s belief is the “green light”, the light which is always shining on the other bank of the shore, and at the same time it is shining in his heart. The five years of effort was for fame, for money, for changing the humble origin, for the material world. However, after all is said and done, he even don’t have the courage to invite his sweetheart to his house by himself. All the gorgeous articles are for her, but “She vanished into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby—nothing.”
Nothing, what a ridiculous word to describe the agelong love. As far as I can see, it’s unfair to define Gatsby’s effort as futility, and there is no need for assuming Daisy as a material girl because everyone has their own reluctance. Tragedy is another form of beauty. Life is over, but the earth never stops rotating. The transitory reunion and endless love are enough to pay back the passing time and chance.
As fruit needs not only sunshine but cold nights and chilling showers to ripen it, so character needs not only joy but trial and difficulty to mellow it. I think the most delicate arrangement of the book is asynchronism. If there had been no original parting, the hidden tenderness would not have been seen from the fake prosperity. When the lost love and time was rekindled, the lovebirds are the embodiments of the word “perfect “in eyes, and then the affection was sublimated to a habit, which was more of a pursuit of the ideal. It is the imperfection that creates the incomplete beauty, so that Daisy’s absence on the funeral was also a good point.
Nevertheless, the moment when Gatsby took the rap for Daisy and was shot dead for this deeply shocked me in that the action contradicted my own idea. I understand that the setting of the character decides that he has to act like that, but I disapprove of the complete sacrifice for true love. The premise to love someone else is to love yourself. While the compensation is over, it’s time to treasure and fight for yourself.
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
Let’s end with the last sentence of the work. To those who feel menial or triumphant.
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