Great Gatsby: A final look

(A blog post inspired by the esteemed Gaurav Gadgeel)

Earlier, before reading the Great Gatsby, I had discussed what it meant to succeed and how it is different in every person's perspective; I now, however, see success in a completely new way having read a book revolved around success.  In my earlier post I was oblivious to one simple fact that was so evident in The Great Gatsby: wealth does not equal success.  Throughout The Great Gatsby, Gatsby himself does not ever feel truly successful.  Why is this?  It is because he has not achieved happiness in life.  I now realize that success can only be obtained when someone has achieved true happiness.

Gatsby, a resident of West Egg, lives in a giant mansion, buys extravagant things, and throws many large parties.  He clearly is a very wealthy man; however, has he succeeded in life.  The answer is actually no, simply because he is not happy.  Even at his own parties, while everyone is having a great time, he stands off to the side and watches his parties instead of enjoying himself at them.  He does not even know half the people who come to his own house!  The only thing that can make him happy is Daisy, his golden girl.  After falling in love with her, Gatsby was sent off to the war.  While he was away, Daisy married to another wealth man.  Heartbroken, Gatsby gained wealth and became materialistic in hopes of getting Daisy back.  In the end, however, he is not successful and become very depressed moments before his death.  And so, since he never truly managed to find happiness, in my view, Gatsby has not succeeded in life.  

So all in all, do not get consumed with the idea of gaining wealth.  Even if you work hard to get good grades to get into that good college to get a good job to get a good income, make sure that you make time to "succeed" and find what will make you happy for the rest of your life.