Final Reflection

A recurring theme in The Great Gatsby, is trying to find a balance between the "American Dream" and real life. As the book takes place during the age of the Roaring 20's, it is understandable how hard it is to find the balance for the two. Everyone and everything was supposed to be fun and enjoying with very little to worry about. Throughout, Tom Buchanan is very demanding, always seeming to get what he wants, especially towards women. Tom claims Myrtle to himself as he is having an affair with her, while his wife Daisy was being pushed around like she didn't have much to offer. When it came to Daisy being in the midst of her own affair, Tom became very furious and quickly disapproved, verbally attacking Gatsby. On page 119, Nick tells the reactions of the news: "she had told him that she loved him, and tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded. His mouth opened a little, and he looked at Gatsby, and then back at Daisy if he had just recognized her a some one he knew a long time ago". This reaction shows through the entire story who Tom Buchanan is, and how selfish of a person can be. It is understandable to dislike your wife getting with another man, but when Tom did the same, he was seen as nothing but selfish, and hypocritical. The "American Dream" also included the idea of having the wealth that all desired. Gatsby had it all from his large amount of wealth handed down to him from his parents. He had the high class education, and everything that seemed perfect. Yet, it was only because he made it seem as though his life was a complete lie. Several rumors were always being made and Gatsby himself seemed that he was lying. When Nick was out with Gatsby, he says, "'Well, I'm going to tell you something about my life,' he interrupted. 'I don't want you to get a wrong idea of me from all these stories you hear'" (Pg 65). This quote comes to show what Fitzgerald was trying to get across to the reader in relevance to change. He wanted us to understand that change can get in the way of life of everything. When we have a dream like the "American Dream", it is almost impossible to still have everything you were able to obtain before. This dream got caught up in Gatsby's life because he wanted such greatness for the future, he was covering up his past, and not focusing on the now, the present stages of his life. Dreams change people but mostly affect the ones around them. In chapter 9 of my portfolio, I mentioned how everything changed after Gatsby's death. It is because everyone was revolved around him, helping to achieve his big dream, that when it all came to a stop, there wasn't really anything else left to reach for. The theme of this book helps us to understand what both good and bad change can do to us, and we need to see and recognize that in our own personal lives because Gatsby's life is one that is very similar to Fitzgerald's life and how he as well went through big changes in his life, that affected a lot of people around him.