Book Review #33 ~ The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald is considered such a great classic due to the brilliant combinations of individually captivating elements that the story possesses. Everything from Fitzgerald’s buttery and elegant writing style to the widely relatable issues that dictate the story provides the novel with its gripping nature that makes it the unforgettable classic it has been recognized as for decades. 

            The simple choice of the time period itself was an ingenious choice and one that highly contributes to qualifying it as the Great American novel. The time period of the 20s, the Roaring 20s, is an intriguing and widely discussed period. It is a time of excitement and freedom filled with indulgence, pleasure, and parties that many Americans only dream of one day being able to experience. The Great Gatsby is filled with extravagant parties where “men and girls [come] and [go] like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars” (Fitzgerald 31). Events such as these, which can only be described as somewhat magical, allow the reader to experience a time period filled with an opulence beyond one’s imagination. As Jeff Nilsson, a historian for The Saturday Evening Post remarked, “the 1920s is the most fascinating era in American culture.” This allows the reader to be wholly captivated by the story and the playing-out of the outrageously luxurious lives of the elite in this decade.

            The Great Gatsby’s ability to strike a connection with readers’ minds and hearts is also another reason that it can be constituted as such a great classic. The character of Jay Gatsby himself, although foolish at times, is one that demands the reader’s full attention and inspires intense emotion. His passionate love for Daisy is a quality that reveals the very human and very imperfect nature of Gatsby. His fairytale-like love for Daisy is one so deep that it makes all readers hope to one day experience something similar. Gatsby’s love is especially displayed in the way “He [doesn’t] once [cease] looking at Daisy, [revaluing] everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes” (Fitzgerald, Chapter 5). The fact that he is so deeply in love with an unforgettable admirer from his past arouses compassion and further lures the reader in until he becomes completely immersed in the storyline. As author Michael Westwood states, “Gatsby, in a transcendent sense, touches the imagination with his idealism.” Gatsby’s intense and heartfelt emotions that are so clearly revealed cause the reader to be wholly engrossed in the novel, making one both feel for and feel with Gatsby at the same time.

Yet another element that provides the book with its unique and definable quality is Fitzgerald’s use of universally experienced issues throughout the book. His elaboration on the beauty of the past, the high of anticipation, and the pursuit of the American Dream are all issues that people have personally experienced or have witnessed. These then allow the reader to not be a simple bystander to exciting yet irrelevant events taking place in the novel, but to be involved and connected as he draws comparisons from the characters’ plight to his own.

Take the example of the beauty of the past: it has been universally accepted over hundreds of years that people look back on the past with rose colored glasses. The past, slightly faded, is a nostalgic and often peaceful time that many draw back to in times of hardship. Gatsby’s desperate wish to turn back the time and live “just as if it were five years ago” (Fitzgerald, Chapter 6) is a common feeling experienced by almost everyone. Because of a very human tendency to reminisce and to regret, the past can seem to be a splendid and mystical place and can leave people with a sense of intense longing. These feelings towards the past are ones that Gatsby constantly struggles with throughout the book and are ones that very understandable to readers everywhere.

 The beauty of anticipation is also addressed many times throughout the book, and can also be a relatable topic for many. Often times the excitement leading up to the event is much more enjoyable than the event itself. It has been widely known that grandiose expectations can lead to an immense letdown, and it is these huge expectations that cause Gatsby to suffer greatly later in the novel. For example, after spending long-awaited time with Daisy, Gatsby realizes that “the colossal significance of [the green] light had vanished forever… Now it was again a light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one” (Fitzgerald, Chapter 6). This realization shows that although Gatsby got what he had desired for so long, he still felt some sense of sadness at the end of it. Because the process of waiting allows us to let our minds wander to imagine the greatest scenarios possible, anything that strays from our expectations can result in great disappointments. This realization is one that strikes a chords with all readers.

The pursuit of the American Dream is also a greatly relatable issue. The Great Gatsby is the classic rags-to-riches story of self-made success. As scholar James L.W. West states, “The Great Gatsby is a story of a Mr. Nobody from Nowhere who rises from obscure poverty to immense wealth.” This classic story is one that almost everyone has dreamed about. It captures the American that all Americans want to be. The novel “embodies the American spirit and the American will to reinvent oneself,” as author Maureen Corrigan recognizes. The fact that the story revolves around such a central, American theme that has been discussed for hundreds of years further makes the novel one that the reader can easily relate to and be absorbed in.

Finally, Fitzgerald’s iconic, entrancing writing style is a key element in making The Great Gatsby such a classic recognized all around the world. The book is written with Fitzgerald's lyrical prose that is brimming with imagery and symbolism that delight the senses and minds of readers. Symbols such as the green light, the white and gold that are applied to Daisy give greater meaning to her character and the theme of the greed and corruption of the wealthy class in the 1920s. From the very beginning to the famous last line of the book, there is not one flimsy sentence in the book. Any line out of any chapter can be considered a small work of art in itself.

The Great Gatsby can be considered one of the greatest classics of all time not because of certain separate elements such as universal themes and a beautiful writing style, but because of the way in which these aspects are seamlessly woven together. The way Fitzgerald has shaped his characters, and structured his plotline makes the novel so memorable and absolutely timeless.

College and Finding the Silver Lining

A man named Anatole France once said, “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.” It was quotes like these that pacified my fear of moving to the United States from my hometown, Vancouver. When my parents sat me down and explained to me that we would be leaving Vancouver, I was simply dazed. I didn’t know what to think. I was troubled, for I wasn’t sure if this move was something to look forward to, or something that would give me more problems than rewards. Just when I thought I had learned the way to live, my life changed drastically.

As time went by and the realization set in, I became torn between the two nagging thoughts inside my head; to anticipate or to anguish. I was excited for the fresh start that awaited me there. Nevertheless, I could not bear the fact that I would no longer be able to take those much loved strolls right by the shimmering sea just minutes from my house or hiking in the lush green mountains that stood towering over the city. But I eventually accepted the fact that I had to leave it in order to start a new chapter of my life. And so, we said goodbye to the place that we had called home for years and started the 1,300 mile journey to Los Angeles.

After seven days of driving down from Vancouver, we finally reached our long awaited destination. The streets of Los Angeles were overwhelmingly different from the streets that I had grown up in. It was rush hour every hour here; there were so many people powerwalking down the street, every single one of them looking as though they had somewhere to be but not enough time to get there. Cars were bumper to bumper in the streets, blasting their horns impatiently and, on top of it all, mounds of trash littered the sides of the road. There was such a variety of everything, from people to cars. I felt as taken aback as the country mouse that had come to visit the big city.

As the days dragged on and we finished up unpacking the mountains of boxes piled up to the ceilings of our house, it came time for me to start middle school. If I had to sum up the whole mixture of feelings I had in a single word, that word would be afraid. I was afraid of being the odd one out. I was afraid of being looked down on and not being received very well. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to be myself. There were so many different things I was fearful of. And to say the least, getting used to middle school was no picnic. It made me that much more uneasy coming from a city where middle school didn’t exist. The time to start school had finally come, and it was an arduous experience for me. I had left behind all the friends I had made over the past 10 years, and coming to a whole new place and starting all over again was beyond intimidating. I was absolutely bewildered by my new surroundings, and I thought that because of my obvious confusion, I would be rejected by everybody else right off the bat. However, I was delighted to find that the students were very friendly and welcoming of the “new girl.” I was glad to feel accepted and realized that this experience had made me a stronger person.

On a final note, I’ve got to say that although it was tough to start the journey and difficult at times throughout it, I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. My trip through the dark tunnel taught me a priceless lesson. I learned that storms in life can either make you or break you, and deciding to persevere through tough times can make you a true successor, no matter what the outcome. After this experience, I am confident that whatever challenges college may throw at me, I can grit my teeth brave through them. Now I understand that although change can be scary, it is what makes me grow, and college is one of the best changes that can happen to me. Through college I can live out my dream of becoming a doctor, and march down the path of life with my head held high. 

Superman Drawing

Wonderwoman Drawing

Movie Review #8 ~ The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Although both The Grapes of Wrath the book and the movie are considered cinematic and literary masterpieces, there are many key differences between the two that greatly alter the overall feeling of the work. The book highlights the stark and harsh realities of life during this time, while the movie takes on a much more optimistic view. Despite some of these startling differences, the movie contains elements worthy of praise. 

             In one of the very first scenes, as Muley Graves is telling Tom and Casy about how he and his family got tractored off the land, the cinematography is particularly noteworthy. The director makes use of a flashback to show the dramatic moment when the family had to helplessly watch the tractor tear down their house. As the tractor pulls away, the camera pans to the family, showing their grim faces. The camera then moves to show the family’s shadow against the ground, long and thin. This particularly highlights the idea that the family who has lived in the same place for generations has become nothing more than a shadow of a memory to the land.

            The lighting throughout the movie is also worth mentioning; the majority of the movie is shot in the dark, with only a single dim light source illuminating the actors’ faces. Although this sort of environment would most likely have been very difficult to shoot in, it was successful in delivering a powerful part of the message to the audience. The constant darkness throughout the film shows the bleak and rather frightening nature of the situation that these farmer families have been placed in. There is no escaping the darkness, just as there is no way out of the families’ unfortunate positions.

            A key element that was left out in the movie, however, was the unforgettable ending scene in which Rose of Sharon suckles a dying man. Although this scene is admittedly scandalous, especially for this time period, it was an essential scene to the story. This conclusion showed the reality of the Joads’ difficult situation rather than painting on a false happy ending. It also was crucial in showing the growth of arguably the most spoiled member of the family, Rose of Sharon. This scene demonstrated that even she had to adapt to the unfortunate circumstances and help out as much as she could. Leaving this scene out and ending the movie on a rather positive note with Ma’s hopeful words completely changed the feeling of the movie and took away much of the emotional impact it originally had.

            All in all, both the book and the movie had positive qualities. Although the movie would have been much better had it included some key points in the story, it was well-made on the whole, especially considering the conservative period in which they were working. 

Origami Drawing

Here's a quick sketch of an origami friend that my friend made for me! (Lol I could not make an origami friend to save my life!) Hope you like it! 

Elsa Drawing

Part of my Disney Character Series!