The Problem With The Great Gatsby

When it comes to reading the classics there is a level of angst before reading. They have been discussed, analysed and written about so it makes sense that such opinions and expectations would cloud a new reader's judgement. The Great Gatsby is no exception. John Carey called it 'the supreme American novel', others have marked it as 'brilliant', 'perfect', it is even now, years later, being turned into a film by Baz Luhrmann. But why are these books deemed as 'classics'? What causes them to still be discussed in schools or book clubs? Why are we still reading them? Because we have to? The inevitable question is - are 'classics' important to literature as a whole or just important to those of that era? Do we, as new readers of a new time, see it differently? The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway who is introduced into a world of wealthy people. He moves into a house next door to Jay Gatsby who becomes a very mysterious figure and the subject of some gossip. He meets many people, among them Daisy, a married women with lots of money. As he watches those around him, Nick begins to see the flawed lives of the wealthy and a new side to the great Jay Gatsby - a tragic love merged with a deadly secret.

At the beginning Nick idolizes the 'mysterious' Jay Gatsby. Why Fitzgerald chose this perspective seems quite obvious - so we can see what Nick sees, being guests in the wealthy world of Gatsby and Daisy and Tom but it is this perspective that becomes the double edged sword. Although a good way of allowing us to see things and not get up close - it could have certainly influenced Jeffrey Euganides' perspective for The Virgin Suicides - it becomes a way of distracting the audience. The drama that consists between Daisy and Gatsby seems to just happen, there is no progressing, just mere snippets, which makes the story flat and weak. The whole thing seems to lack meaning. The end comes, however, and then Fitzgerald reveals his master plan but, in a way, the damage has been done, our attention has already trickled away, vanished. 

Fitzgerald, however, allows us to dislike his characters - there is no sympathy just sheer honesty. The perspective comes into play here as well. When we first meet Gatsby we have been told that he is very mysterious, our expectations are that he is a strong man but he is weak, very instantly, there is no time for us to even gather are thoughts because what we see - through Nick's eyes - is this weakness. In addition to this, the character of Daisy - our lead female - is a shallow and irritating character. How can Fitzgerald expect us to become involved in such a story with no characters we can relate to? Admittedly, we are supposed to be Nick and see what Nick sees but Nick thinks differently as to what we see - he thinks the world of Gatsby, we do not. Fitzgerald is a powerful writer and his power comes out in small snippets: 

'"They're such beautiful shirts," she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. "It makes me sad because I've never seen such - such beautiful shirts before."' 

It is a beautiful and distinctive image that Fitzgerald portrays perfectly. The perfection comes at the end of the novel when all the pieces of Fitzgerald's seemingly simple puzzle falls into place. As a novel about the world of the rich The Great Gatsby works. It allows us to visit this world we are alien to and witness the downfall and stupidity of such people. It allows us to see that the wealthy have the same characteristics and flaws as everyone else. But as a book that allows you to relate and wonder and feel it doesn't make the cut.