In Great Gatsby, all of the characters are left to contend with the past especially Mr. Gatsby himself who has a particularly intriguing past. In terms of Gatsby’s past, all remains a mystery but one simple fact : Gatsby may be filthy rich now, but has not always been. Gatsby's so-called overnight success leads the aristocrats of East Egg to believe Mr. Gatsby was involved in crimes like “bootlegging” in order to attain such money. Whether or not Gatsby was explicitly involved in crime, the rumors that circulate throughout society sure suggest so, drawing in crowds at parties and drawing criticism elsewhere. This scorn for the “new money” crowd is one Tom wears proudly, “a lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know.”
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Gatsby is the significance of hard work and the value of never abandoning one’s dreams. Gatsby, growing up in a working class family, worked restlessly to achieve the glamorous goals of wealth as told by Mr. Gatz., “Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something.” (Fitzgerald 175). Such resolves remained until the day of his death. Mr. Gatsby was always reaching both in the book and in the movie for something more, never satisfied with what was already obtained. This object Gatsby is reaching for was most often the green light on Daisy’s dock. In the movie, the light is relatively far away symbolizing how far away and unattainable Daisy really is. Having that fateful past with Daisy, Gatsby attaches all happiness to the dream of rekindling that relationship. This was Mr. Gatsby motive to become rich and live in Long Island and throw all the lavish parties, just so Daisy might be impressed and leave Tom. Gatsby, seemingly ashamed of his shabby past, wants most of all to reverse time and marry Daisy, eliminating Tom completely from the picture.
Comparing Mr. Gatsby's past to present demonstrates the great American Dream but also represents the declining of American morals. Though Mr. Gatsby achieved this dream and proved it valid, it was at the same time redefined displaying the criminal means often used to attain it and verifying that happiness does not come along with it. As seen in The Great Gatsby as well as in everyday life, the past plays an immense role in the future, setting in stone the course life will take, especially in the great life of Mr.
Gatsby is the significance of hard work and the value of never abandoning one’s dreams. Gatsby, growing up in a working class family, worked restlessly to achieve the glamorous goals of wealth as told by Mr. Gatz., “Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something.” (Fitzgerald 175). Such resolves remained until the day of his death. Mr. Gatsby was always reaching both in the book and in the movie for something more, never satisfied with what was already obtained. This object Gatsby is reaching for was most often the green light on Daisy’s dock. In the movie, the light is relatively far away symbolizing how far away and unattainable Daisy really is. Having that fateful past with Daisy, Gatsby attaches all happiness to the dream of rekindling that relationship. This was Mr. Gatsby motive to become rich and live in Long Island and throw all the lavish parties, just so Daisy might be impressed and leave Tom. Gatsby, seemingly ashamed of his shabby past, wants most of all to reverse time and marry Daisy, eliminating Tom completely from the picture.
Comparing Mr. Gatsby's past to present demonstrates the great American Dream but also represents the declining of American morals. Though Mr. Gatsby achieved this dream and proved it valid, it was at the same time redefined displaying the criminal means often used to attain it and verifying that happiness does not come along with it. As seen in The Great Gatsby as well as in everyday life, the past plays an immense role in the future, setting in stone the course life will take, especially in the great life of Mr.