Boats Against the Current The river of time flows as an unstoppable force, yet there are those who simply rebel from its cruel hands, rejecting and unyielding to the shackles of time. The movement of time is unidirectional—unchanging and unrepeatable, yet Gatsby portrays the elusive matter more like that of an ocean’s tides; ever-changing, but also repeatable. While Gatsby dedicates his entire life to regaining Daisy’s love and hand in marriage, he fails to live in the moment and instead remains stagnant in time. The story tells us that dwelling on the past only leads to disappointment. Even though one may have ambition, the evolving circumstances in the world make it impossible to completely recreate the events of the past. Gatsby may have achieved wealth and ‘greatness,’ but his obsession with repeating the years prior leads to his demise. …show more content…
Gatsby “had thrown himself into it [his dream] with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way (Fitzgerald 96).” Not only does Gatsby take an interest in viewing his past with Daisy, but he embellishes it with creative falsehoods that elevate the magnitude of his visions above reality. As a result, “Daisy tumbled short of his dreams,” unable to attain the level of Gatsby’s dream because she simply cannot live up to “the colossal vitality of his illusion (Fitzgerald 96).” While Gatsby is separated from Daisy, both undergo many changes in the forms of marriage, business, and life experiences. Gatsby and Daisy may appear the same at first glance, but in reality, they are no longer the same people from five years prior. As a result, Gatsby’s vision no longer matches the dream that embodies Daisy, which manifests itself in his