The Great Gatsby immerses us into the lives of the rich in the 1920’s. The story was written with an abundant amount of imagery. When I first started this book I did not like it too much, but once the story started rolling, it intrigued me. Set in the past, The Great Gatsby shows the mindset of wealthy New Yorkers during Prohibition. The suburbs of West and East Egg on Long Island are where characters live and roam. The West and East Eggs are supposed to represent the two peninsulas along the northern shore of Long Island. F. Scott Fitzgerald is a flowery writer so when you read the book it is as if you are living in New York with the characters.

The Great Gatsby is a fictional novel that has a lot of detail. Even though it is not too long it can be hard to comprehend. The Great Gatsby is read by many highschool students but it can be a book that is underappreciated because there may be no discussion about it. A discussion while reading this book can help break down the complexity of some of the plot and the importance of the time when the story is taking place. 

This whole book comes from the perspective of Nick Carraway. Through his experiences, we are able to see into the personal lives of the other characters.  He hangs out with all of them but he serves as an  outside observer. At the very beginning of this book he says,“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.” Although he never gets personally involved he often serves as a confidant for those with burdening secrets. 

Mr. Carrway always seems to be in the middle of everything, but from the outside looking in. For instance, he helps reintroduce Gatsby to his old love Daisy, but he does not see himself as one of their crowd.  Nick and Gatsby grow a great bond as if they have been friends since childhood which serves as the reason for Nick's cooperation to help Gatsby throughout the novel.  

The Great Gatsby is fascinating because the characters are not lovable and I could not relate to them but I was intrigued by them. Gatsby held onto the love he had for Daisy for several years even though they were together for only a month in the past. In many ways this made him objectify her. Although Gastby holds out all these years for Daisy, she does not wait for him. She got married while he was away. When her husband Tom finds out about Gatsby's relationship with Daisy, he becomes furious and tries to split them apart. Strangely, Daisy makes no augment throughout the novel about Tom's mistress. This confused me because She still never mentions the fact that she knows about the love affair. 

It is also bonkers to me that Gatsby knew that Daisy lived on the other side of the canal, and the fact that he threw dozens of parties hoping Daisy would show up at one. Gatsby wanted Daisy to give up everything and run away with him. We wonder if Daisy will be willing to do that because she liked that Tom had come from a wealthy family that gave her a good reputation. 

Unlike Tom, Gatsby didn't inherit his money, so there was a bit more risk to him. The way he got his income didnt come from legal investment but from selling alcohol during prohibition.  I overall believe Gatsby was trying to be a good man but he should have been more careful about what he worshiped. He aspired to have that feeling of love that he had when he first met Daisy. Which I believe was beautiful but it became an obsession leading to the tragic end. Unexpectedly, the end made the book better because what had happened only added to the mystery of Gatsby. The only thing I was craving after I read this novel a piece of what Daisy was thinking. Daisy never gave much insight into what she was thinking. She acted shallow and conceited which made me wonder if she ever did love Gatsby and why he loved her.

  Unlike Daisy and Gatsby who seem so perfect for each other, Daisy and Tom are a very mismatched couple. Hopelessly romanticising, Gatsby put his love for Daisy on a pedestal by centering his life on a way to get his gal back. Luxurious and gorgeous, Daisy lived a mindless lifestyle and she married into money. When Gatsby comes back into her life, it seems like she might take a chance with him, but then we wonder if she really ever gave it a chance. Born into money Tom had a jump from the start, so he never had to work for what he inquired and was handed everything. Daisy was taken for granted and mistreated by Tom, and  he was overall a horrible person. 

The Great Gatsby has many themes including wealth, greed, worship, betrayal and the American Dream. All the main characters in this book have some kind of wealth whether it is inherited or selfmade, money is idolized in this book. Greed was portrayed by all the characters for example, Daisy with her love for money. No one in this book except Nick and Gatsby had each other's back; all the others were willing to betray each other to get what they wanted. The American dream of money and fame or being well known is a main idea of this complex novel.

I highly recommend reading this book. You will go through such a journey with the characters. The way Fitzgeraldit wrote The Great Gatsby allows it to be brought to life with every detail. In the end Fitzgerald really captured this story in a great way which kept me interested and wanting more. If I were to give this book a rating I would give it four out of five stars.