Although it is debatable whether F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, is truly one of the greatest novels of American literature, one thing remains certain: the classic novel is infused with a multitude of sententious statements that touch the hearts and minds of readers even to this day. Among the countless meaningful quotes the novel has to offer, there is one in particular that continues to echo not only in the mind but throughout time. This statement is none other than the closing line of the novel, as narrator Nick Carraway reflects to himself that “...It [the orgastic future that lays before us] eludes us then, but that’s no matter...So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (ch.9,
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In this sense, people are like sentimental boats, continuously rowing against the tides of the present in attempt to reach our past hopes and dreams which we were unable to achieve. However, no matter how much the boat rows upstream, it will be caught in the current and continuously swept away, unable to reach its destination. Fitzgerald is revealing that the tenacious pursuit of long lost dreams is more than just any human tendency, but a hopeless cause. Just as Gatsby sought after that green light and all that it stood for, his love for Daisy Buchanan that once was, people continuously dwell on past opportunities missed, love lost, mistakes made in anger, among a multitude of others. This will eventually lead to the downfall of the individual, as reflected in Gatsby’s death. Nonetheless, even Gatsby remained naive up until the very end, as the individual refuses to accept that the boundaries of time can limit them from achieving their former dreams, as they fall back into the continuous rhythm of chasing after the past while the present holds them in …show more content…
More importantly however, it serves as its own individual ‘denouement,’ an ultimate and final reflection of the character that was the great Jay Gatsby; the statement summarizes who Gatsby was, his passions and desires, and who he wanted to be (and how they ultimately lead to his downfall). Like the “boats against the current,” Gatsby was constantly absorbed with the idea of winning back the love of Daisy that was lost to Tom Buchanan as Gatsby went off to war. Years and years passed, yet Gatsby kept his eyes on the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, building up his wealth and throwing lavish parties in hopes of impressing his true love. Naive was he, however, to that the current of time pushing against his vessel was constantly widening the gap between him and winning Daisy back. Gatsby persistently pursued his goal of restoring the past all the way through his death, never losing hope that he would one win back the love of his life; Nick’s line reflects on Gatsby’s downfall in the continued theme that dwelling in the past, although full of hope, is a hopeless cause. While from a glance the life of Great Gatsby appeared lavish and well, the harsh reality was that it was a life wasted, and certainly an empty one. Gatsby sacrificed his wellbeing, his
In this sense, people are like sentimental boats, continuously rowing against the tides of the present in attempt to reach our past hopes and dreams which we were unable to achieve. However, no matter how much the boat rows upstream, it will be caught in the current and continuously swept away, unable to reach its destination. Fitzgerald is revealing that the tenacious pursuit of long lost dreams is more than just any human tendency, but a hopeless cause. Just as Gatsby sought after that green light and all that it stood for, his love for Daisy Buchanan that once was, people continuously dwell on past opportunities missed, love lost, mistakes made in anger, among a multitude of others. This will eventually lead to the downfall of the individual, as reflected in Gatsby’s death. Nonetheless, even Gatsby remained naive up until the very end, as the individual refuses to accept that the boundaries of time can limit them from achieving their former dreams, as they fall back into the continuous rhythm of chasing after the past while the present holds them in …show more content…
More importantly however, it serves as its own individual ‘denouement,’ an ultimate and final reflection of the character that was the great Jay Gatsby; the statement summarizes who Gatsby was, his passions and desires, and who he wanted to be (and how they ultimately lead to his downfall). Like the “boats against the current,” Gatsby was constantly absorbed with the idea of winning back the love of Daisy that was lost to Tom Buchanan as Gatsby went off to war. Years and years passed, yet Gatsby kept his eyes on the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, building up his wealth and throwing lavish parties in hopes of impressing his true love. Naive was he, however, to that the current of time pushing against his vessel was constantly widening the gap between him and winning Daisy back. Gatsby persistently pursued his goal of restoring the past all the way through his death, never losing hope that he would one win back the love of his life; Nick’s line reflects on Gatsby’s downfall in the continued theme that dwelling in the past, although full of hope, is a hopeless cause. While from a glance the life of Great Gatsby appeared lavish and well, the harsh reality was that it was a life wasted, and certainly an empty one. Gatsby sacrificed his wellbeing, his