Most people do not like to talk about the past. For most it can become very uncomfortable because everyone has done something that they are not proud of. Although we do not know very much about Jay Gatsby, we do know that his past record was not the cleanest. I believe that because of this Gatsby is naive enough to think that he can change the past. Simply because he does not like his past. Nick is realistic, he knows that changing the past is completely impossible. Making things the way that they were in the past or having the ability to turn back the clock would completely change most people’s life. Daisy continues to regret things about her marriage. This is described in chapter four when it is repeated over and over that “Daisy's change' …show more content…
I also disagree with this. People never truly forget. The past will always be in the back of their mind. Gatsby wants to change the past because he knows that Daisy and him are separated and, they always will be because of the past. “He talked a lot about the past, and I gathered that he wanted to recover something, some idea of himself” In the novel Nick says this while describing what he believes is going through Gatsby’s mind. Gatsby really believes he has changed the past when Daisy is at his house for lunch “Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her.” Nick is very rational. He has proved this throughout the novel by being more of an observer, he seems to just be along for the ride. Nick knows the truth and he is very honest. He describes this about himself when he says “Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” I think it makes him feel sorry for Gatsby. Nick understands that you cannot go back. You must move