I love Gatsby. I know lots of people dismiss it, however, I find it to be hauntingly poignant. What always strikes me is Carraway’s disillusionment at the end of the novel when no one bothers to attend Gatsby’s funeral. All everyone was interested in was taking advantage of the free booze and entertainment - and no one cared about the man himself. It seems to foreshadow how Fitzgerald died without the appreciation and thanks for this brilliant novel - Perhaps there was a part of him that knew his ‘world’ was not ready, willing or able to recognise and understand the profundity of Gatsby’s story?!
Thank you, Henry. What a wonderful essay. The Great Gatsby is my favorite American novel. For so many reasons. It is especially poignant to celebrate it now. The section you quoted here always has me in tears. Fitzgerald must have called to his muse when writing this. Only 208 pages in all~ but so poetic and timeless. It had never occurred to me that the reason it was not a success at the time was the prophesy it held. Fitzgerald was saying out loud what many must have known subconsciously about their lives. My grandmother came of age during the Jazz Age in New York City. She always seemed as if she had lost something. There is no other American novel that compares in capturing the loss of youthful promise, the squandering of gifts and the beauty of all that is unattainable.
Excellent assessment of what The Great Gatsby was all about. It is a tragedy that Fitzgerald had to live so closely to what he was writing about. Some writers can achieve some sort of detachment. Others need to be mentally and emotionally absorbed and involved to arrive at the truth or capture the truth of what is happening. Gatsby could be a parable that cautions against worrying too much about how one is perceived by others and not getting to closely involved with careless, capricious people are treacherous and make one ultimately self-destructive by continually lowering their self-esteem through harsh judgment or evaluation. Sometimes their seems to be a high cost to achieve the supreme ability to be able to write well and be well appreciated for one's achievement.
One of my favorite books, required reading in high school and then again 45 or so years later. Of course, it was so much more poignant in the later reading and Gatsby himself was so much more complicated than I originally thought. I’ll definitely reread it again. No movie has really captured the book for me.
I read The Great Gatsby for the very first time after I read this post. What a beautiful piece of work. The moon was mentioned so often, it waxes and wanes and the novel follows Gatsby’s life that did so too. I will remember the routine he etched out at the back of his childhood book. It broke my heart.
It is heartening for any writers the number of amazing books that were critically panned or disappeared without trace during the life of the author. Love Gatsby, something new with ever read. The device of Nick as narrator, who as a character I find forgettable, gives a perspective on events that enables the insight on the rest of the characters. Interesting to learn more about Fitzgerald’s life - thank you, Henry.
I love Gatsby. I know lots of people dismiss it, however, I find it to be hauntingly poignant. What always strikes me is Carraway’s disillusionment at the end of the novel when no one bothers to attend Gatsby’s funeral. All everyone was interested in was taking advantage of the free booze and entertainment - and no one cared about the man himself. It seems to foreshadow how Fitzgerald died without the appreciation and thanks for this brilliant novel - Perhaps there was a part of him that knew his ‘world’ was not ready, willing or able to recognise and understand the profundity of Gatsby’s story?!
I wish I could tell him that it worked out ok…
Thank you, Henry. What a wonderful essay. The Great Gatsby is my favorite American novel. For so many reasons. It is especially poignant to celebrate it now. The section you quoted here always has me in tears. Fitzgerald must have called to his muse when writing this. Only 208 pages in all~ but so poetic and timeless. It had never occurred to me that the reason it was not a success at the time was the prophesy it held. Fitzgerald was saying out loud what many must have known subconsciously about their lives. My grandmother came of age during the Jazz Age in New York City. She always seemed as if she had lost something. There is no other American novel that compares in capturing the loss of youthful promise, the squandering of gifts and the beauty of all that is unattainable.
Excellent assessment of what The Great Gatsby was all about. It is a tragedy that Fitzgerald had to live so closely to what he was writing about. Some writers can achieve some sort of detachment. Others need to be mentally and emotionally absorbed and involved to arrive at the truth or capture the truth of what is happening. Gatsby could be a parable that cautions against worrying too much about how one is perceived by others and not getting to closely involved with careless, capricious people are treacherous and make one ultimately self-destructive by continually lowering their self-esteem through harsh judgment or evaluation. Sometimes their seems to be a high cost to achieve the supreme ability to be able to write well and be well appreciated for one's achievement.
One of my favorite books, required reading in high school and then again 45 or so years later. Of course, it was so much more poignant in the later reading and Gatsby himself was so much more complicated than I originally thought. I’ll definitely reread it again. No movie has really captured the book for me.
I agree that it’s a book that is well worth reading again as one ages, and again. It is incredibly poignant.
I read The Great Gatsby for the very first time after I read this post. What a beautiful piece of work. The moon was mentioned so often, it waxes and wanes and the novel follows Gatsby’s life that did so too. I will remember the routine he etched out at the back of his childhood book. It broke my heart.
I’m so thrilled – that you read it and you loved it! That’s a wonderful observation about the moon.
It is heartening for any writers the number of amazing books that were critically panned or disappeared without trace during the life of the author. Love Gatsby, something new with ever read. The device of Nick as narrator, who as a character I find forgettable, gives a perspective on events that enables the insight on the rest of the characters. Interesting to learn more about Fitzgerald’s life - thank you, Henry.