Book Report Great Gatsby

Jennifer Pham

Miss Kelsey Hopson

H English I 107

11 December 2014

The Great Gatsby Book Report Love, at times, can drive a person crazy. Sometimes, it is good while other times, not so much. This love is displayed in Jay Gatsby, the main character of the book, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. As Gatsby’s character is further developed, the realization of him being attached, abstracted, and retrospective comes into light. Gatsby is reunited with Daisy after many years. Gatsby offers to give a tour of his house to Daisy. There is a scene, in particular, where they go to his room. In his room, Daisy seems to notice old photos of Gatsby when he exclaims, “‘Look at this,’ said Gatsby quickly. ‘Here’s a lot of clippings—about you”’ (93).

He sees her as the women he met years ago, but in reality Daisy has now changed. A scene depicts Nick Carraway questioning Gatsby about the success of the dance only for Gatsby to reply, “I feel far away from her” (109). Gatsby tries to grasp his ideal expectations only to be disappointed. Another instance of Gatsby’s abstract mind is when Nick Carraway depicts of a small and short moment that occurred between Gatsby and Daisy. He describes Gatsby with an “expression of bewilderment” (95). Carraway further explains Gatsby’s feelings. “Daisy tumbled short of his dreams—not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion” (95). Once again, Gatsby’s expectations have fallen short of

There are several instances in which Carraway mentions of Gatsby’s talk of the past. The most concrete evidence is of Carraway’s statement, “He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself perhaps, that had gone into loving Daisy” (110). Fitzgerald further creates another little scene. After Gatsby’s denial of Daisy’s change at the dance, Nick tries to persuade him to be in his right mind. “‘I wouldn’t ask too much of her,’ I ventured. ‘You can’t repeat the past”’ (110). Gatsby responds with anger, “‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can’” (110). Fitzgerald does an excellent job of finalizing Gatsby’s mindset by describing, “He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of is hand” (110). All of Gatsby’s actions and words suggests that he wants the past to be what is the