Andrew Comer 2/17/14
“Gatsby” Classic Essay
Position: “The Great Gatsby” is a classic because of its still relatable content, standing the test of time, and its unceasing popularity with readers even today. Since its debut in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s groundbreaking novel about the rigidness of time, society’s blindness to reality, and the downright satirical nature of a dream, has captivated audiences worldwide, as it has been translated into 42 languages such as “El Gran Gatsby” in Spanish and “Gatsby le Magnifique” in French. Because of the novel’s global fan base, its modern message – that is still current today-has spawned generations of praise. Its ability to capture the satirical nature of a dream in regards to time opens the reader’s eyes to the reality we as a people had so desperately hid away. In light of these aspects, “The Great Gatsby” is a classic novel in literature.
Human Condition: In “The Great Gatsby”, Fitzgerald uses satire to express the nature of a dream. A dream may seem full of grandeur and aspiration but time will always be there to turn those traits into insignificance and desperation. In Gatsby’s case, the dream was to somehow turn back the clock so that he and Daisy could be together once again. But trying to turn back time is like trying to bend a stick until its ends meet: it can’t be done. Time is an eternal joke when it comes to a dream. The joke starts off like a mountain, building and building until it leads to a catastrophic and fatal punch line. The punch line is like a wake up call to reality. Time makes you realize how laughable the dream was, how it could never be. Love is the premier dream to fall victim to the comedian that is time. In comparison to “The Great Gatsby”, love is a vicious motivator. Love can bend people to another’s will. Love can make someone commit murder just to impress someone. John Hinckley Jr., after seeing and falling in love with Jodie Foster in the film Taxi Cab, shot U.S. President Ronald Reagan in the hopes of impressing her. Love made Gatsby throw expensive parties for weeks in the hopes that Daisy would eventually show up. This message of love and mental anguish is still relatable today as many have gone to their wits end for the gratification of the one they love. It is a facet of human nature that will stand the test of time until the conclusion of time itself.
Continuance and Consistency: Reading “The Great Gatsby”, one can learn a great deal about our flawed human nature and what we do to compensate for it. In Fitzgerald’s novel, we see many symbolic images and references that tell us about the nature of the characters. For example, “Standing behind him, Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T.T. Eckleburg, which had just emerged, pale and enormous, from the dissolving night. “God sees everything,” repeated Wilson. “That’s an advertisement.” Michaelis assured him.” (pg 160) As a reference to the omniscient eyes of God, we see the façade that society puts on. Throughout the novel, countless depictions of the Dr. Eckleburg’s eyes are made. Michaelis telling Wilson that the eyes are an advertisement exemplifies the fear and uncertainty we as humans have. We all experience the fear of being judged or watched, and the uncertainty whether we actually are or not. The presence of a being that can enact these judgments only increases the denial that such a power exists. We deny because deep down we all have secrets we know can’t be discovered. This notion is not unlike the duplicities surrounding Gatsby’s life. This meaning of secrets being a part of what makes us human is another way we can see this novel in today’s society.
Emotions are what make us human. They can be fleeting, or last a lifetime. In “The Great Gatsby”, one can study the fragileness of our emotions and what they can mean for us a society. An example from the novel would be, “For Daisy was young and her artificial world was redolent of