Thoughts on The Great Gatsby

[gothrockrulz]

Beautiful though the book is, it can be a bit gloomy. (Okay, make that REALLY gloomy.) I was going to write something deep and detailed about my impression, but all that I came up with was a mini script spoof.


CARRAWAY: I was born privileged, but I'm having to make my way in life through the glitzy 20's Long Island scene.

GATSBY: I wasn't born privileged, did make my way in life, and now I'm a big shot that OWNS the glitzy 20's Long Island scene.

CARRAWAY: And I live right next door to you. Yay.



GATSBY: Doesn't matter, old fellow. I'm still miserable.

CARRAWAY: God, I hate rich people.

GATSBY: But this splendor has a purpose! I'm in love with a rich married woman across the bay. It's all for her. And yet, in spite of all this, she's STILL UNATTAINABLE.

CARRAWAY: Wow, I actually feel sorry for you.

DAISY: *crooning* Everybody loves me, because I'm the most fascinating woman alive.

CARRAWAY: You do have a special magnetism. Even I feel it, and we're cousins.

TOM: I'm married to the most fascinating woman alive--and I still keep a mistress.

FEMALE READERS: *claw air*

JORDAN: Hello, Nick. Feel sympathetic with Gatsby's plight, do you? Wait till you realize I'm unattainable, too.

GATSBY: Daisy loves me, Daisy loves Tom not, Daisy loves me, Daisy loves Tom not, DAISY. LOVES. ME.

TOM: Grr. Only one allowed to sleep with another man's wife here is ME.

GATSBY: Dude, you don't understand. She's not my mistress--SHE IS MY ETERNAL SOULMATE. GET IT?!

DAISY: Um . . . I kinda love you both. In your own ways.

TOM: . . .

GATSBY: . . .

CARRAWAY: All my friends are so awkward.

TOM'S MISTRESS: *dies horrifically*

GATSBY: *dies horrifically*

NOBODY cares but JOHN CARRAWAY and GATSBY'S FATHER.

ALL READERS: *incoherent bawling*

Comments

[dunderklumpen.livejournal.com]

You know the kinds of books your teacher forced you to read in school? There were some I liked, some I loved and some I hated. I'm afraid my english teacher made me don't like "The Great Gatsby". I get it's supposed to be a classic but IMO it's completely overrated and outright boring for the most part. That's not a popular opinion but yeah... that's what I think. And don't get me started at the movie. Yes, it is entertaining but it's not a "literature" dramatization at all. It's Baz Luhrman popcorn cinema - far too light and far to bubbly. But if it brings young people back to literature I'm all for it.

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

I really wish schools didn't force kids to read classics--how are they supposed to enjoy them if you make them a chore instead of an adventure, like they're supposed to be? (I actually wasn't forced to read a lot of books, 'cause I was homeschooled. And I was one of those weird kids that read Dickens for fun at age 11.) I like "The Great Gatsby", but I can relate if you think it's boring. There are a few parts where it is hard to keep your mind from wandering. :D

I haven't seen the Luhrman movie--but I'm fully prepared for a flapper version of Moulin Rouge, featuring characters from "The Great Gatsby." I read the book just so I would know how the story was supposed to go while watching the movie.

You've got a good point that even not-so-faithful adaptions of literature can still be useful in drawing people in. I'll have to keep that in mind. :)

[dunderklumpen.livejournal.com]

I'm torn with the classics because I'm quite sure that most people won't touch a classic again after school. Not because they had to read it in school but despite it - So in school is the only time they come in contact with it - that's a chance!
Reading classics is in general a good idea. But if you like it, depends on so many other factors as well. We read among others "The great Gatsby" and Shakespeare's "The merchant of Venice". I love shakespeare but TMoV was entirely the wrong piece to read in school. At least IMO.

The french "Madame Bovary" is a classic but I was so much struggling with French back then that it was a real torture. And no matter how much I know that, the book will always have my antipathy because of this one bad experience.

Goethe's "Faust" on the other hand I absolutely loved. That's a german classic more or less everybody reads in Germany in school. Despite the fact that I couldn't stand our teacher as a human being, she was a brliiant literature teacher and I'm certain that I wouldn't have understood half as much of "Faust" if she hadn't teach us. Her approach was great and it made me fell in love with this classic until today. But I do know a bunch of people who don't like it as much as I do TGG.

So see... there are so many things that play into reading and loving a classic that it's hard. But rather be forced to read a classic in school to get an insight in a classic book than never see, read or touch one like I'm sure most people would if they hadn't to in school.

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

You're got a very good point, there are definitely many facets involved in why people like/dislike books, whether they read them in school or in their own free time. Part of me wonders, though, if people who aren't crazy about the classics would be more willing to read said classics in their free time if it wasn't a requirement in school. I guess it depends on the person. But if they are determined to avoid classics as much as possible, then very well, get them to read a little for school. :D

Ouch, reading "Madame Bovary" in French sounds really difficult. No wonder you're not a big fan!