This year, as a part of an American literature class, my piers and I were assigned to read "The Great Gatsby." As we read the novel, I came to the realization that the title is and was completely misleading.
Gatsby was certainly not great.
Allow me to explain. To put this all into context, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of, "The Great Gatsby," was a member of the "lost generation" — a title given to World War I veterans. Fitzgerald, along with others considered to be a part of the "lost generation," was a modernist, meaning that his focus was not on love but rather living life to the fullest.
So how does this connect to the novel, "The Great Gatsby?" Jay Gatsby himself was a romantic — the polar opposite of a modernist. Gatsby's only life goal was to be reunited with his only love, Daisy (who, by the way, got married to another man).
Gatsby's love for daisy is touching and perhaps refreshing in the world of modernists, however, Fitzgerald makes it evident that Gatsby was foolish. Let us consider these facts:
1. Gatsby became a bootlegger: He committed federal crime (buying and selling alcohol, despite the prohibition laws that were in place) in order to become rich. His purpose in wanting to become fabulously wealthy? So that he could be in a financial state that would grant him permission to marry Daisy, of course.
2. When Gatsby became wealthy, he purchased a mansion across a lake from Daisy and her husband. How would you feel if your ex-boyfriend bought a neighboring house so he could stalk you?
3. Gatsby spent thousands of dollars on parties that he did not even attend in attempt to lure Daisy over to his house. Again, stalker?
It is foolish to commit the actions that Gatsby executed for a love that is not reciprocated. Daisy definitely told Gatsby that she loved him, but she was reluctant to act on the love that she claimed to have. Gatsby was so blinded by his own affection that he was unable to see how much he was throwing away in giving his life to Daisy. Fitzgerald, being the modernist that he was, well-depicted the insanity in the destructive love that Gatsby had for Daisy.
Gatsby worshiped Daisy in a way that caused him to lose himself, and there is nothing Great about that.
