The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a fascinating love story with historical insight into the roaring twenties. The narrator, Nick Carraway, is a polite man learning the bond business at his new home in New York City. His neighbor, Jay Gatsby, is a wealthy man who hosts nightly parties, none of which Nick has been invited to. One day, an invitation does arrive, to which Nick graciously attends. Despite living right next door, Nick has never seen this man named "Gatsby" and does not recognize him upon their encounter. Through a small conversation, Nick quickly befriends Gatsby, forming an unusual friendship between the two. Nick gradually learns of Gatsby's mysterious ways and the tragic love story he shares with Daisy Buchanan, who currently lives across from Gatsby's house, a woman whom Gatsby feels betrayed by ever since she married another man out of her need to be loved by someone. After living apart for many years, Gatsby convinces Nick to invite Daisy to his house for tea to reacquaint the lost lovers. Gatsby learns that Daisy does not truly love Tom, the man she is currently married to, but is not strong enough to leave. As they begin seeing each other more frequently, Nick recognizes the still existent attraction between the two lovers, while he himself pursues a relationship with Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy’s. I felt that this novel was very well-written and deserves the publicity it has received from literary critics within the past fifty years. The novel is heavily symbolic and is extremely thought-stimulating, making it an excellent choice for high school students. The movie, which I watched last year, does not do its justice, and I therefore highly recommend reading this novel prior to the film. I was overall very impressed by the characters Fitzgerald created, and while the plot may appear rather simplistic, the deeper meaning that can be drawn from the text makes The Great Gatsby a magnificent piece of literature.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a fascinating love story with historical insight into the roaring twenties. The narrator, Nick Carraway, is a polite man learning the bond business at his new home in New York City. His neighbor, Jay Gatsby, is a wealthy man who hosts nightly parties, none of which Nick has been invited to. One day, an invitation does arrive, to which Nick graciously attends. Despite living right next door, Nick has never seen this man named "Gatsby" and does not recognize him upon their encounter. Through a small conversation, Nick quickly befriends Gatsby, forming an unusual friendship between the two. Nick gradually learns of Gatsby's mysterious ways and the tragic love story he shares with Daisy Buchanan, who currently lives across from Gatsby's house, a woman whom Gatsby feels betrayed by ever since she married another man out of her need to be loved by someone. After living apart for many years, Gatsby convinces Nick to invite Daisy to his house for tea to reacquaint the lost lovers. Gatsby learns that Daisy does not truly love Tom, the man she is currently married to, but is not strong enough to leave. As they begin seeing each other more frequently, Nick recognizes the still existent attraction between the two lovers, while he himself pursues a relationship with Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy’s. I felt that this novel was very well-written and deserves the publicity it has received from literary critics within the past fifty years. The novel is heavily symbolic and is extremely thought-stimulating, making it an excellent choice for high school students. The movie, which I watched last year, does not do its justice, and I therefore highly recommend reading this novel prior to the film. I was overall very impressed by the characters Fitzgerald created, and while the plot may appear rather simplistic, the deeper meaning that can be drawn from the text makes The Great Gatsby a magnificent piece of literature.
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