Creative Reading Response

The Great Gatsby 

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

   In the eye of Nick or most readers, Gatsby is great. As a child, he dreamed of wealth and luxury, and he has attained them with his own power. But as for me, Gatsby is great for his tragedy. 

     In Gatsby's entire life he has perused two things, one is spiritual comfort, Daisy; the other is materialism. However, what he is always long for, at last, becomes illusions.

     Five years ago, Gatsby felt helplessly in love with Daisy when he was a young officer in WWI, World War One. But Daisy married Tom for his wealth. Since then, Gatsby decided to win his love and his success in whatever ways. But the glamour and excitement of American life has affected Daisy a lot. She has become materialistic, vain and selfish. Gatsby has made a wrong choice at first for that what he wanted never exists. 

     “Her voice is full of money.” Gatsby is clear about reality, but he can’t get rid of his dreams. So he had to cheat himself and found many excuses for Daisy’s abnormal behaviors. “Five years next November.” For five years he is alone to run after a dream which no longer exists. Poor Gatsby! His loneliness was typical in the vivid picture of the modern America in that era. His romanticism is that he has devoted all his “magic” to an image, which leads to his ultimate destruction.

     If Gatsby’s spiritual comfort is a bubble, his material pursuit can also be concluded as a fail. There exists a national ethos of USA in which freedom includes a promise of possibility of prosperity and success. “Life should be better, richer, and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability regardless of circumstance of birth.” Gatsby hold this belief firmly in his heart. He had had strict demands on himself and cultivated good habits in his youth. But it was impossible to become wealthy without illegal trade, which at least proves true at that era in America. Being a bootlegger, he made a fortune, even though there was a law that forbade selling and drinking of alcohol. 

     If the whole society was not in the wrong way to seek fortune, fame and power, then Gatsby wouldn’t have done these criminal activities. This likes a scam. Gatsby seemed to be a piece of the chalkboard of the American society. At last, he became very rich, but the upper old class, well bred and far more refined, didn’t accept him. 

    Tom’s shameless affairs, Myrtle’s violent death caused by Daisy, Gatsby’s framde killed, these crimes went unpunished. Older generation, like Tom and Daisy, would just be “careless”, no fear, and no judgments. A social order has developed the benefit of classes rather than simple human being.

    I witness Gatsby’s kingdom became foam. The world of parties, bright lights, heavy drinking and jazz music suddenly disappeared, turned into disillusion. Gatsby’s life is like a leaf floated onto the ground, covered by the dirt, quietly. 

    What is tragedy? As Lu Xun said, “Tragedy is valuable thing that is doomed to be destroyed and we see the process of its destruction, doing nothing.” Whatever the wealth and Daisy had brought to Gatsby, one thing is clear; he feels neither peace nor any real pleasure. His attempt to fulfill his simple beautiful dream is like a boat rowing against the current. I can’t help clapping for his persistence. In a basis of sense, he is like a worshipper before a shrine.