|
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce
for her too, Till she cry Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have
you! Thomas Parke D'Invilliers Jay Gatsby went through most of his life striving
for a new beginning, a chance to start over and succeed. He forced that aspect
of life, into his own, by changing his identity. He was James Gatz a man who's
unknown soul was left to linger in the past. Now he is Jay Gatsby. Gatsby does
not realize that life can be difficult. You can not just move on and pretend
that the past never happened. If you do not face the real and original you, you
will never find success or happiness in the way you wish to live your present
life. All through Gatsby's life he looked to the green light on the dock across
the bay for hope and reassurance. He needed to know that his dream was still as
bright as it was the day he met Daisy. Gatsby lived for an American dream. The
truth was that Jay Gatsby of West Egg, Long Island, sprang from his Platonic
conception of himself. He was a son of God - a phrase which, if it means
anything, means just that. (Pg.104) Gatsby created himself to be his own hero,
through the eyes of a seventeen year old boy. He began to wear that gold hat and
rise in society with money, friends, and a love life he dreamed of returning.
You see I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there
trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me. (Pg.71-72) Gatsby smothered
himself in popularity to try and block out the memory of the man he was before
his change. He has been grieving for a love that he lost when drafted to the
war. His only hope left is a green light across the bay which seems to shine
through the unhappiness in Gatsby's life. Daisy, as pure and sweet as the flower
itself, is the only thing left that is needed for him to complete his dream. He
wanted nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say, I never
loved you. (Pg.116) We know that Gatsby is asking for to much of Daisy, he knows
it too. Can't repeat the past? Why of coarse you can! I'm going to fix
everything just the way it was before. (Pg.116-117) There is no convincing
Gatsby, he truly believes he can go back to what once was. No one is ever able
to relive something that happened so long ago.
|
