Blog Topic #5 Personal Review
The Great Gatsby was certainly a good read. No only did it invoke one's own aspirations, but also explored the dark side of those desires. Similar to the varied saying “Be careful what you wish for”, the novel explores this side ultimately ending with the death of Gatsby. This was a great novel that tied into history and yet it still has value today as it includes many present themes.
I liked Nick as the narrator as his characteristics blended well with the story. His personality allowed a more clean and honest view of the situation. Unfortunately though, I felt like the characters were underdeveloped. Perhaps it was the authors intention, but even so I felt that their could have been more. The characters all stayed relatively flat and unchanged from beginning to end. Even Nick experienced little change.
The thing that stood out to me that was perpetual throughout the story was the green light. It has been attributed to Daisy, hope, a drive,and the American Dream. This, I feel , is one of the novels strong points because all of us have a “green light” in our lives, well I'd hope so. Fitzgerald manages to critique the American Dream in telling the story of Gatsby.
I like your explanation of how many of themes described in the book can be applied to situations today. While I agree that there was not a major character evolution in the story, I believe that the author focused on developing the progression of Gatsby's character rather than anybody else's in the book. If you look at the book as a whole, the other characters were mere background information in the story of Gatsby. Your analysis of the American dream sheds light on the green light. That's an interesting way to look at the progression of the light and its meaning.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your analysis especially your connections to the "American Dream". However, I disagree with you that that the characters were flat.Part of what I liked best about the novel was the mutidimentional characters and interwoven storys to eachother. I think Gatsby especially has a very deep character. Each chapter the readers are surprised to discover more truths and story's from his past.I also found myself, for example, questioning if Gatsby was selfish or truly in love with Daisy. However I do see how the mystery that surrounds Gatsby could make him seem like an underdeveloped character...
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