Before You Walk, Make The Read || The Great Gatsby by kathy

Before You Walk, Make The Read || The Great Gatsby by kathy - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

In the eyes of a teenager, society has a great deal of influence in everyday life whether they notice it or not. Many factors of society have been apparent since the 20th century when mass culture first evolved and most notably seen in The Great Gatsby. The Great Gatsby showcases lost generation writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald; Fitzgerald was lost because he didn’t seem to be in sync with the ever-changing society that was the roaring 20s and found refuge in Paris with other authors such as Hemingway. The Great Gatsby introduces themes such as disillusion, class, as well as deception that are very well still seen in today’s society, which is why every student should read this book before graduation.

Disillusionment is shown, when character Jay Gatsby takes on the persona as the new hotshot in West Egg who throws lavish parties. In retrospect he only takes on the persona to try to win back his true love, Daisy, and puts it upon himself to rekindle a romance. He tries to reenact the past and ultimately that was his downfall. This theme is important because us teenagers should not try to be someone we’re not or try to recreate a past than has gone but rather focus on the now and what’s important today.

Just as class defined you in this world then, it still defines you in this world now. In the book, this theme is important because it ties in with the Roaring 20’s and the time of financial euphoria. Being up to the latest trends then included the short hair and yellow Rolls-Royce, while keeping up with 2015 includes the newest iPhone and driving a brand new Jeep. Our generation loves to put extreme emphasis on materialism at such a young age. In reality, it’s not what you have that defines you but who you are and your actions.

Another important theme that high school students can learn from this book is the deception factor. Deception in the book, take place in many situations such as Nick leading other character, Jordan, on when he doesn’t wish to be in love, Gatsby on his past hidden life including illegal activity, and Daisy trying to be the happy housewife even when she knows her husband has a mistress. My main point with this theme is that deception ultimately advances you no where. In fact, it hinders any progress in a relationship because once the truth is revealed, all the trust is broken.

I remember when I was five years old and saw a copy of Great Gatsby and thought, “huh what a weird book”; reading it my junior year I couldn’t believe how relatable a book that was written nearly a century ago could be. In conclusion, I can say with all sureness that Great Gatsby is simply timeless. Every high school student should read it before graduation because it teaches lessons of disillusion, class, and major deception. Every single theme ties back to our current society is some way shape or form and that’s what beautiful about the Great Gatsby and that’s what makes it a timeless work of literature.