One of the major themes in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the character’s inability to repeat the past, which is expressed in many ways, including one of the main characters named Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s desire and his inability to realize he can’t change the past ultimately leads to his downfall. He tries endlessly to win back Daisy and do whatever he can to make it so that Daisy only loves him, but is unable to see that the actions he carries out will eventually cause Daisy to not want him back and cause more harm than good like he had originally planned it. This strong urge to change the past and his inability to realize he cannot ultimately leads Gatsby to his downfall.
Gatsby is unable to understand that he cannot change the past. Through persistence he attempts to make his dreams a reality, but is unaware that how he bases his dream off of money and being dishonest ultimately draws corruption to the dream he has. This blind chase for Daisy through dishonest methods leads to him being unaware of the ultimate affect of his actions, which were not intended by him. He believes that through manipulation he can change the past and make it so that Daisy never loved Tom and always wanted him. Through self-expression Gatsby explains his feelings about the past when he says, “Can’t repeat the past?’…’Why of course you can!” (Fitzgerald 110). From his persistence in changing the past, he is unable to understand the consequences that will arise from him trying to change the past, failing to see the problems that arise as he persists with getting Daisy back to try and ultimately change the past.
Throughout the book, Gatsby comes up with plans to draw Daisy back to him. He originally tries to bring attention to himself by throwing lavish parties every so often, hoping that it would draw Daisy to the party and eventually to himself. These parties, however, show how everyone just uses Gatsby for his money but has no intentions of... [continues]
Cite This Essay
(2013, 02). The Great Gatsby. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 02, 2013, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Great-Gatsby-1423522.html
"The Great Gatsby" StudyMode.com. 02 2013. 02 2013 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Great-Gatsby-1423522.html>.
"The Great Gatsby." StudyMode.com. 02, 2013. Accessed 02, 2013. http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Great-Gatsby-1423522.html.