The Great Gatsby

[akiratheoni]

Had to read it in my junior high school AP English class. I heard of it before, I thought I would hate it. I thought it would be long and drawn out like The Odyssey was. I thought the writing would be dull and boring. The funny thing is, the novel was none of those things. I loved it. Fitzgerald's writing drew a world so vivid that I was able to truly imagine the world of West Egg and the rise and fall of Gatsby through the eyes of Nick Carraway.



What were your thoughts of the book? If you haven't read the book, I'd ask that you don't post in this thread because I want to actually discuss it

 

[Princess]

It's been ages, but maybe I won't embarrass myself.... OK, here goes.

I liked the book--felt sorry for Jay Gatsby. He gave his heart to the wrong person.

It has similarities to Wuthering Heights in that respect. Maybe Daisy really loved Jay, but maybe not....she was so spoiled that you don't know how much of what she said was true and how much was to get what she wanted.

 

[akiratheoni]

Lol don't worry you didn't embarrass yourself, at least as far as I know. It has been like two years since I read it. But yeah I think that Daisy was conflicted; I think in Gatsby she saw a part of herself because she definitely did feel something for Gatsby, but it was probably inappropriate for her to reciprocate because of her relationship with Tom. And in the end the fact that Gatsby was a bootlegger and was new money compared to Tom's inheritance of wealth pushed Daisy to choose Tom over Gatsby.

 

[Princess]

Daisy wanted it all. The prestige of being from an old, established family. But she wanted Jay because she was in love (or as in love as she could be)

She's one shallow individual.



Jay, on the other hand, should have realized that Daisy wasn't 'real'. She was never going to choose him. And he simply tortured himself by moving next door.