In chapter four, Gatsby tells Nick about his past as the two of them are driving from West Egg into Manhattan for lunch. Gatsby's narrative contains some truths and some deceptions as he works to create a persona that Nick will admire; Nick is Daisy's cousin, after all.
Gatsby tells Nick that when the war came along he "tried very hard to die." Just before he said that to Nick, he said that he had been travelling around Europe before the war "trying to forget something very sad" that had been troubling him.
Plausible inferences that readers could take away from Gatsby's story include the possibility that he is a bit melodramatic and prone to exaggeration. He may be trying to elicit sympathy from Nick. It could also mean that Gatsby is somewhat depressive and does not rebound easily from difficulties and disappointments.
In Chapter 4 of the novel, Gatsby reveals that in the war he "tried very hard to die, but [he] seemed to bear an enchanted life," and then recounts his actions leading a dangerous but successful mission in France, resulting in a promotion to major and decorations from multiple governments. Based on this flippant comment about death, as well as his lifestyle and actions throughout the book, we can infer that Gatsby possesses a boldly confident attitude toward life and winning, as well as an internalized belief in his own immunity to death. Gatsby exerts great effort in erasing and fleeing from his roots, vigorously chases and accumulates wealth by any methods necessary, and pursues Daisy relentlessly, despite the fact that she is married to another man. This reckless approach to life ultimately results in an untimely, violent death as Gatsby's enchanted life proves to be a mere illusion.
No comments:
Post a Comment