Personal Review

I found this novel to be a great story about what extent people would go to to realize a dream, no matter how improbable, as well as the overall bad impression that society gave in this book. It seems that society was just bad all around, whether it had to do with affairs, taking advantage of the lives of others, or just not caring about other people, society’s woes were definitely portrayed throughout the novel. Nick seemed to be the one who had to hold it all together; help Gatsby through his life and not entwine himself in any malicious practices. I liked the fact that Fitzgerald’s story had a lesson behind it as well. Gatsby lets his desires get in his way and in order to achieve them he engages in illegal practices. Although he was madly in love with Daisy he should have never given into selling alcohol and even though I was sad when he was killed I could not help but feel it was right that he did not end up the way he wished because he had got to where he was through unlawful deeds. I thought it was extremely cool as well to read a novel by an author who thought that America was obsessed with material wealth. While learning about Fitzgerald and the Lost Generation in history, I was able to connect this with the book about how Gatsby gained so much wealth in order to gain the life he always wanted only to realize it was not what he imagined; instead full of cruelty and pain. This is likewise the view Fitzgerald held of America at the time. A country that one could no longer seek self-fulfillment, but could only be disillusioned by its riches. I could also not help but feel bad for Nick. He comes to a new place with a starting job and the beginning of his life, only to be pulled into the many affairs of Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom. Overall, I thought the book was written beautifully, with many twists, mysteries, and rhetorical strategies that added to the overall appeal of the novel. I could honestly say it was one of my favorite books I have had to read in high school.