In a world full of adaptations from the classic “Romeo and Juliet”, there are only a handful of novels that have the power to bring the enchantment of love in your eyes and truly allow you to be consumed by the words. The Great Gatsby is one of those novels, and yet, it is so much more than just a love story.
Written by Fitzgerald, the novel aims to portray the life of a rather young man, consumed by the rich lifestyle of the roaring 20s, and it doesn’t run short of the epic parties, cars, people, and of course, love. Nick Carraway, a man from a well-to-do family, just out of fighting the war and looking to sell bonds, narrates the story. His character is portrayed as a soft and curious soul, making his way through the new town and understanding people as they come. His residence lies right opposite the Gatsby mansion, where nights are everything but lifeless and the party never ends. However, the host isn't seen during these parties and is rarely completely known by anyone. It was also believed that Gatsby held a dark secret about his past and the way he became so great, a deep lust that may eventually cause his demise. And yet, despite this mysteriousness and baffling reputation, Nick had the privilege to get to know the real Jay Gatsby.
Apart from keeping readers on edge and in love with the characters, Fitzgerald’s writing outlines the injustice that comes with being rich. The rich are allowed to still be careless, and Fitzgerald highlights the horrors of being a careless person - "They smashed up things and creatures so retreated back to their money and vast carelessness." This line particularly calls out Daisy (Jay’s long-lost lover) Tom (her husband), and the rich population of West and East Egg, the ones who view life as an attachment to money. This feature that is made so prominent by the writer, their inability to care, is what makes The Great Gatsby the opposite of Romeo and Juliet where the lovers are sacrificed. Additionally, unlike in Romeo and Juliet, the characters within the Great Gatsby are in themselves very flawed and hard to sympathize with. But that's what makes the book ‘great’.
Considered a tragedy by many, since, the ending creates an atmosphere that states those that dream don't achieve their aspirations. Although, the message that Fitzgerald sends to us isn't that dreaming will cause despair, but that chasing an unworthy dream will result in tragedy.
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