Quick Review: The Great Gatsby

 

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Note: This is a spoiler-free post!

It’s really looking like I’m turning into a Classics junkie. While lots of people busy themselves chasing after the next new thing, here I am busy unearthing past treasures. And though this process involves torturing myself by parsing difficult sentences and themes, I don’t seem to be deterred.

My most recent treasure hunt led me to The Great Gatsby. I had previously read Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned and thought it was quite good, so I was wondering what The Great Gatsby might be like. It’s considered Fitzgerald’s best work, after all. It even has a movie adaptation from which came that famous Leonardo diCaprio champagne-toast scene. And now, I see the reasons behind all the acclaim.

A Brief Blurb

Every weekend, a lavish mansion in the fictional area of West Egg in Long Island lights up in excitement. People from all places - even those without an invite - flock to attend the spectacular, late-night, open-to-all parties hosted by a mysterious Mr. Gatsby. Before long, rumors fly. How did Mr. Gatsby attain such wealth? Who is he? Where did he even come from? Nick Carraway, Mr. Gatsby’s neighbor, might end up discovering answers as he finds himself the recipient of a rare, personal invitation from Mr. Gatsby.

Dreams of Success

The Great Gatsby is ultimately about the American Dream - the promise that America is the land of opportunities in which success is possible for anyone who works hard enough. This promise is scrutinized through exploring the elite and non-elite class at the time. What it yields under scrutiny, though, I leave it to discover for yourself :) 

The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.

I may not be an American, but the theme resonated with me. Isn’t success in life something universally desired? And it’s not something limited to those in the workforce. Students, for example, aim for academic success, and perhaps some are stirred by a maxim echoing the American Dream: If you study hard enough, you’ll get good grades and have a successful life. So I think The Great Gatsby can appeal to a variety of readers.

Nevertheless I couldn’t do away with Google completely, since this is a story about America after all. The behavior of the elite class at the time, for example, was one of the cultural points I needed help with. A map of America was also something I searched for online in order to get a better grasp of the setting.

Gateway to Classics

I think The Great Gatsby is a good pick for people who have never read a Classic before, but want to try reading one. Fear not - the language isn’t that difficult. I was overjoyed to discover how much easier it was compared to The Beautiful and Damned. The story isn’t that long either. I’m sure you can finish it in one day if you have time. And even in its succinctness, Fitzgerald manages to incorporate meaningful symbolisms, metaphors, and themes. The Great Gatsby certainly makes a great read and a great introduction to the world of Classics.