The Great Gatsby

An old classic that I had never gotten round to reading. Didn't quite enjoy Mr Fitzgerald's style of writing, perhaps it is a little too old for my liking. Jay Gatsby, a man of unknown wealth and mystery, lived in large mansion in West Egg, in New York in the 1920s. Lavish parties were synonmous with Gatsby. Nick Carraway, the main narrator of the story, was Gatsby's humble neighbour and across from his modest abode, lived Tom and Daisy Buchanan. The Buchanans were well-off but Buchanan was a sorta has-been and Daisy, was seemingly flighty and possessed a superficial girly charm. 

So the story goes, Tom was seeing another woman behind Daisy and somewhere in West Egg, Gatsby was pining away for Daisy. They had met and fell in love 5 years ago when he was a lieutenant in the US army and was stationed near Daisy's hometown in Louisville. But due to his lack of financial status, Daisy eventually married someone else- Tom. 

During those 5 years, Gatsby tried his utmost to accumulate his wealth so that Daisy could "see" and admire him. Through Nick, Gatsby and Daisy eventually reunited and carried on a secret affair (rather bold dont you think for the 20s?). 

Daisy then invited Gatsby and Nick to her house, in the presence of Tom and her friend, Jordan Baker. During the visit, Daisy flirted openly with Gatsby, incurring Tom's wrath. In the final hotel scene, Daisy proclaimed to Tom that she was leaving him for Gatsby. After Tom started divulging Gatsby's business in the bootlegging industry, Daisy started to waver. Everything went downhill from there. In Gatsby's car, Daisy drove recklessly and killed Tom's mistress, who was married to Wilson. 

Tom, insinuated to Wilson that it was Gatsby behind the wheel. Wilson, in his fury, killed Gatsby and later himself. Although Gatsby's parties always saw hundreds of people, noone came to his funeral, except his father and Nick. Nick tried to find anyone that he could to attend Gatsby's wake but to no avail. Even Daisy was gone. He later found out that the Buchanans had moved away from New York.  

A rather sad story of a man's utter devotion and love for a frivolous girl. A girl, who was portrayed as a "careless" character, and who did not think nor care for the consequences of their actions. In the end, it was the people around them that suffered and cleared up their messes, whilst they continued on their careless ways. I have only pity and sadness for Gatsby, whose only fault was loving the wrong person.