The past is a very important thing. It is the entire history of a person; it makes them who they are. People are moulded based on past experiences and decisions. But no matter how much someone may want to relive the past, it is impossible, and everyone must move on. Everyone must let go. A main theme of the novel, The Great Gatsby is the American Dream, the dream of greatness. The goal that a person improves themselves for and strives toward. But if someone pursues the dream, they will never be satisfied. Their hunger for more will never be satiated. Gatsby is a perfect example of this. He is wealthy and popular, a dream for most people, but still he is not satisfied. He still wants Daisy, she becomes his dream because the wealth and fame were …show more content…
Gatsby was so obsessed with the past, and trying to recreate it, that it consumed him. His dream was to be with Daisy, and he tries everything in his power to recreate the love that was between them. Gatsby stated, “Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can” (117). This idea of him and Daisy being in love took control of his life because he could not let her go. He could not move forward and leave her in the past, and it ended up being his demise. Confidently, Gatsby said that, “It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me” (130). This quote signifies that he is truly delusional, and has convinced himself that she loves him, not her husband, in order to keep his dream …show more content…
Both George and Myrtle Wilson have their own goals for “getting ahead” in life, and accomplishing the American Dream. George is determined to be a self-made man, working hard for a living, and making his wealth the “right” way. He has an honest living, and his dream is the same as many working class people. Myrtle, on the other hand, represents a darker way of “making it” in life. Tom is to her, as Daisy is to Gatsby. Tom is her ticket to the high life. She is drawn to him by his wealth. Her husband is working all the time, and does not usually have time for her, but Tom has already made it. He already has the wealth, and in turn has much more free time for her. So even though Tom is abusive towards her as at one point “Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand" (41), she is still infatuated with him because of his wealth and extravagance: “He had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him”