1 September 2010

The Great Gatsby


I really enjoyed this book, although I found it slightly thin on the story side. The protagonist, Nick, moves to new york in the 1920s and right next door to the mysterious and much admired mr. Gatsby. Nick and Gatsby soon become fast friends at one of the laters infamous social occasions. We soon find out that Gatsby was formerly involved with Nick's cousin, Dasiy, and he is still very much in love with her, despite her marriage. Daisy's husband, Tom, is cheating on her and so Daisy finds solace in the arms of her former lover. When Tom finds out him and Gatsby argue, with Gatsby and Daisy leaving new york abrubtly. Whilst driving Daisy hits Tom's lover with her car, causing her husband to hunt down and kill Gatsby, as Tom tells him he was driving.

The basic plot is pretty intense, but it still seems rather thin for the most part with all the action packed into the end. I think tho when reading more into the text Fitzgerald's writing is revealed as a cleaver satire on the american dream. What we want the most, in Gatsby's case Daisy, can lead to dire consequences, i.e. ultimately his death.

Many of the sub-plots of the underworld and the boot-legging of prohibiton during the 1920s really intrigue me. I am not a history buff, but Fitzgerald made me want me to learn more about 1920s america, and from this well crafted prose I feel I have a little more insight.

No comments:

Post a Comment