How To Survive The Past In The Great Gatsby

For centuries, there has been the argument on the topic of reliving the past. Some want to go back and change a mistake they made, and others want to have the chance to chase after an opportunity that they refused. This battle is actually found in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a long time running classic that so many people adore. The first view is stated by Jay Gatsby, and it runs along the lines of reliving the past is definitely possible. The other claim is by Nick Carraway, a rational man who believes that time changes people to a point that changing events or actions of the past is not possible. I personally agree with Nick, as memories are locked away in your mind for a reason and should not be ignited back into a burning flame again for selfish …show more content…
In the book, Nick Carraway states that, “You can’t repeat the past.” (Fitzgerald 116). He was trying to be rational in a conversation with Gatsby, who firmly believed he could rekindle an old flame with a girl he had a connection with five years ago, as he said, “I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before.” (Fitzgerald 117). I believe that certain events and relationships are in the past for a reason and should stay that way. If something doesn’t go the way you plan, I have a firm belief that you should leave it that way. Why chase after a lost hope that was never going to turn out how you wanted it? To further support my claim, Gatsby even stated that, “She used to be able to understand.” (Fitzgerald 116), talking about his love of five years ago, Daisy Buchannan. I think that Gatsby knows deep down that things can never be the way they were, but the rest of his mind is full of hope to have a lovely future with her, clinging on to the thoughts of a beautiful marriage and a