I first read The Great Gatsby when I was 15 for school. I did not think I would find such a book entertaining. Although I liked classics, I preferred Jane Austen, and this did not sound close to that type of novel. I was surprised to not only be captivated so much by the story but to finish it all in one sitting. The story of a man so in love with a woman who, while she loved him, was ultimately quite selfish fascinated me. And the unexpected, tragic ending made the story all the more interesting and memorable. A couple of years later when I was 17 my family moved and the school I was enrolled in happened to read Gatsby during Junior year. So for the second time in my life, also for school, I read the novel. The course work focused more on details, especially the use of color, throughout the novel and I was able to see the work in a more academic light. I understood more deeply how wonderful of a novelist Fitzgerald was. The Great Gatsby became one of my favorite books. It was in that class I watched my first film version, the 2000 version with Paul Rudd as Nick Carraway. While I did not love the movie, it was interesting to see a book come to life in such a perfect way on film, as this so rarely happens. But the story seemed to translate well, even if it could have been an aesthetically better film. Luckily, a better film was made only a few years later.
When I was 19, the Baz Luhrmann directed version of the film was released. My favorite actress played Daisy, Leo DiCaprio played Gatsby, Tobey McGuire played Nick (which is perfect because I dislike Nick as a character and Tobey is not a favorite actor of mine). Overall the casting was spot on. Luhrmann was a wonderful choice to direct such a huge film, especially the party scenes. My only concern was that Jay-Z was in charge of the music, and all of it was modern. I reread the novel before the film came out and again was swept into the romance of Gatsby and Daisy. When I saw the film I was even more in love. The soundtrack was actually perfect. It allowed for modern audiences to ground themselves in the 1920s and really feel the energy of that time. Party music from the 20s probably would not evoke the same feeling now, but party music from now over scenes from the 20s would. I cannot speak highly enough of this film. But I have digressed....
Over the weekend I reread The Great Gatsby much like I had the first time, all in one sitting. I chose it as my "book that takes place during summer" for mine and my husband's reading challenge. It has been three years since the last time I read the novel. A lot has happened in my life since then and I was surprised to see how the shape of this story changed through my new eyes. But I realized that while The Great Gatsby may be a good novel about class differences and nouveau riche and old, and it may be a good love story, and a good example of that time period; The Great Gatsby is actually a horror story.
Let me explain: The first time one reads this novel, you are swept up in the parties and love story, so when Gatsby dies you are sad but that is all. The following times you might focus on the love story, and still be saddened by the end, but perhaps hoping this time Gatsby will live. However, reading it now and knowing Gatsby dies, and there is nothing I can do to save him, I was dreading the end the entire time. As I read each scene where there was a party it just seemed like an overly obvious way to cover up the horrific tragedy of the finale. The lies Gatsby tells, the rumors that swirl about his shady past and identity, all of these suddenly were screaming clues that the inevitable end of this novel was Gatsby's death. Gatsby in and of himself seemed haunted by his love of Daisy. Reading it this time I saw him as nothing more than a ghost, a man already dead whose last chance at life was Daisy's requited love. I realized that even if he was not unfairly shot by Wilson, who was under the incorrect impression that Gatsby was his wife's lover, the end of the novel would probably still have culminated in Gatsby's suicide.
This time around I noticed more sentences that spoke about the American way of life and commented on society and the human condition. I don't know how they escaped me in the past but suddenly I was reading a novel with great depth of thought, not just plot. A novel full of the depravity of life and the emptiness of hot summer days and money. Gatsby never belonged in that world and yet there he was. I am still processing this new realization. I am sure my next read of this novel, because I know it is one I will revisit often in my life, will provide even further insight to this new concept. For now know that The Great Gatsby is a wonderful novel. If you have not read it, go do so now (and I apologize for putting ideas in your head beforehand, it is a novel read best when you know nothing about it); if you have read it, go reread it and let me know how it has changed for you. Do you dread the party scenes as much as I?
"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made..."
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