In the 3 short days of school, we focused out attention mostly towards the ending of the Great Gatsby. We briefly discussed the chapter, took a deeper look into the hidden meaning behind some of the text through close readings, and we attempted to discover how this book can be called the “great American novel” if none of the dreams comes true. I was really intrigued by the title of “great American novel” because I found it interesting and very ironic that this book could receive this name. But through discussion amongst peers I was able to determine this. He novel can receive that title because typically in other literature, all of the characters get what they want whether its realistic or not but in this novel, it portrays none f the characters succeeding but rather failing at attaining their goals to show how life isn't as perfect as others make it seem. By portraying the harsh reality of society, it can open the eyes of the readers to show them how ones dreams can lead into their biggest failures. It ultimately teaches a lesson to the characters in the novel and the people in real life. I think more novels or any works of literature for that matter should be more truthful about the American Dream because by showing lives where everything is good in the world can make people very ambitious because they also believe that their lives can turn out like the ones in novels when in reality they won’t be anything like that. By showing the true depths behind the American Dream can open the reality to what can happen in people's lives.
I agree that the book did something different besides the typical happy ending where everyone gets what they want. It was interesting to see a different aproach where the outcome was more realistic, although dramatisized, where people can relate to being unable to find true happiness. I also think that Gatsby's issue of being too late to win Daisy is a concept anyone can relate to, almost everyone has gone through an experience where they lost something important when they were so close to getting it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of the label "great American novel" and why "The Great Gatsby" was given that name. The novel depicts a much more realistic form of the American Dream which consists of failure and tragedies that are not discussed as much in other novels that center around the American Dream and what it truly means. The novel brings awareness to an aspect of the American Dream that makes it unattainable to many which is what makes the story more interesting to read as it provides a new understanding to the popularly discussed topic.
ReplyDeleteThe way you perceived the book through having to discuss the ending was great because it covered some irony in the title, having that the title was "The Great Gatsby" but he ends up dying and he is not even remember.
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