Mar 14, 2012 09:54 AM
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“He revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes. Sometimes, too, he stared around at his possessions in a dazed way, as thought in her actual and astounding presence none of it was any longer real.” That’s the kind of love Gatsby had for Daisy.
I had finished just few pages of ‘The Great Gatsby – TGG’ when I learnt that Baz Luhrmann is making a movie based on ‘TGG’ with Leonardo Di Caprio and Tobey Maguire playing the role of Gatsby and Nick resp. From that moment onwards I started correlating the characters with the actors playing their parts and I enjoyed it that way. I feel Leo and Toby are very aptly cast. Amitabh Bachchan is also playing a minor but interesting character of Meyer Wolfsheim. So, I expected a lot of Wolfsheim, but that’s not the case. It’s a minor but interesting character and I feel AB will make his mark in 10 or so minutes that he’ll get. Movie is scheduled to release in May 2012, let see.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Francis Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was an American writer. He and his wife Zelda spent most of their times in partying and enjoying between America and Europe and they are still famous for their life style. His first work was ‘The Romantic Egotist’ published in 1920 written during his tenure in army for WW1. Though ‘The Great Gatsby’ is hailed as his greatest work, ‘Tender is the night’, ‘Tales of the Jazz age’ (short stories collection) and ‘The Last Tycoon’ forms his other renowned works.
In the preface of ‘The sun also rises’, Hemingway esteemed ‘TGG’ as a great work and acknowledged it as an inspiration for the writing style of the his book. Fitzgerald was a close friend of Hemingway, who found him very talented but wasting time in parties, when he should be writing often enough. In ‘Midnight in Paris’, Woody Allen has captured this friendship very aptly. Fitzgerald died at a young age of 44 of a heart attack.
ABOUT THE STORY: Jay Gatsby, rich and handsome, is famous in Long Island, New York for throwing big and glittering parties. When Gatsby invites Nick Carrey, his new neighbor, to one such party Nick finds it quite bizarre and extraordinary as most guests didn’t even know who Gatsby was. Through Jordan Baker, Nick learns the reason behind these absurd parties and that was to impress only one person i.e. Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s cousin.
Gatsby and Daisy were in love some years back, before Gatsby joins war and Daisy, tired of waiting and under family pressure, marry Tom Buchanan. Now, after 5 years, Tom is having an affair outside marriage, of which Daisy’s aware. Gatsby is very rich and famous and owns everything a man could desire for, but in his heart he still longs for Daisy. Only intention behind throwing those parties was that one day, perhaps, just like other folks of New York, Daisy would come and appreciate all that he owns; hoping that it will re-ignite the love that they shares years back.
Nick helps Gatsby meet Daisy and as desired by Gatsby old love re-ignites. Daisy loves Gatsby and Tom loves Martyle; marriage is at the verge of breaking. Love is blooming too between Nick and Jordan. But an unexpected and totally shocking accident changes the course of story altogether. Read ‘The Great Gatsby’ to know.
ABOUT THE BOOK: TGG is a short book with close to 180 pages of life. Language is simple but writing style takes a bit of time to get attuned to, as is the case with most genius works. There is something about the book that makes you think and reflect. TGG holds a very high position (under ten) in the list of top hundred books of all time. Considered as the gem of American literature, like wine this book has only grown better with time. So, here is my take of it.
Narrated from the viewpoint of Nick, it mostly follows a straight plot, with few flashbacks to the early life of Gatsby. What really impressed as well made me inquisitive is the way FSF has devoted first 20-30 pages just to sketch the character of Gatsby through the words of various characters. Along with Nick, reader experiences the awesomeness of Gatsby’s life. But as the story progresses, we get to experience the simplicity and greatness of Gatsby.
There are two characters that really win your heart; first one is, of course, Jay Gatsby. Way FSF approaches this character and the way he leads it to greatness towards the end makes you feel as if he has written TGG only to glorify this character, of course there is some negativity in the character but that’s necessity. Its no wonder that this character of Gatsby is rated as the best fictional character of all time by many a websites. I am really looking forward to watch Leo playing Gatsby. Second, character that leaves an impression is of Nick Carrey; through Nick FSF has sketched Gatsby and in the process he has created a very interesting character of Nick too. Nick portrays the mind of writer, through Nick FSF has portrayed his own philosophy of life and the world around him.
At many a places I read that TGG is about the party culture of America just after WW1 i.e. Jazz age, when rich and influential people spent their life time in attending and throwing glittering parties. But I found TGG more than that, its a great and interesting love story, could be called as story of Gatsby’s obsessive love for Daisy. It needs a man to understand the heart of another man, and that’s what Nick has done for Gatsby. TGG also sketches a good picture of weak culture this world of ours have; extra-marital affairs, lack of values and all.
On the negative side, there isn’t much to write though, only feeling I have is that when Gatsby is not around I missed him, and unfortunately that's a major part of the book,and in those pages it progresses slowly. It moves upwards right from the very start but reaches the epitome of excitement just before the finishing line, the real pulp of the tale lies in the center, and what you read towards the end is very saddening.
TGG delivers a very shocking climax, hardly have I got such upset, I was stunned just like the characters of TGG. It’s as if I myself had been part of that accident. If selfless love of Gatsby wins your heart than the selfishness of others makes you doubt the credibility of human relations too. Other than that, part where Gatsby meet Daisy first time after 5 years, is something very impressive to read.
7 movies have been made TGG since its publication, first one being a silent movie. In 1974, Jack Clayton's version had Robert Redford in the role of Gatsby.
FINAL WORDS: All said and done, TGG is a good book to read; it has an exceptional love story that might have inspired many a writers afterwards. It has given to world one very interesting character of all time i.e. Gatsby and has given lots of name and fame to FSF, more so after his death. Climax is exceptional and stuns you. By now, I’ve read many great books, and compared to them I won’t rate TGG that high. But I will always remember this book for shock element and the unforgettable Jay Gatsby or should I say The Great Gatsby. I recommend it to all.
P.S : Few interesting extracts from the book are in the comment section.
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