The Fear of Reality


The Fear of Reality
  The Great Gatsby embodies the sense of a fantasized happiness and love that many wanted. It was true back then, and still is today. The psychoanalytic criticism of the Great Gatsby focuses on how the characters feared of a true lasting relationship. The supposed reality of getting married is that two are together and “till death do us part” should apply.  Unsurprisingly, even back then many wanted the benefits and advantages of having a relationship without marriage and putting in all the needed work to keep it and make it last. As discussed in class the title “ The Great Gatsby” reflects the outward façade and showed what the 1920s brought. In my opinion, many wanted to avoid the harsh reality of being associated with poverty by giving in to their desire. Pursuing something insanely difficult and complex, with no ethical motives.  I’m amazed  how determined Gatsby wanted to escape the reality of being poor by following “The American Dream” of that era. That is to be famously rich and happy by all means! To him amassing his wealth was his way of trying to win Daisy. Why not! Daisy can help him permanently erase his history of being poor. He tried to fit in with the high class society by throwing extravagant parties. His house(vandalized ), once hosted these gatherings is now a monument to his failed experiment of the American Dream.  I noticed that it’s not only Gatsby who’s trying to escape from reality of being poor, Myrtle too, to the extent of being Tom’s mistress. How complicated these relationships are. They all are living beyond reality!


Comments

  1. Alex XuNovember 16, 2019 at 12:30 PM

    That was well stated, people coming from different times, backgrounds, and places all try to live beyond reality - after all, why live in this imperfect world when you can imagine a perfect world for yourself? Except the chasing of dreams can often lead to one's downfall. I guess we should appreciate how Fitzgerald brought this to light, as usually, only the very few people who succeed at achieving the American Dream are ever talked about. And of those who succeed at becoming wealthy - how many are actually happy?

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  2. Marz AhmadNovember 16, 2019 at 3:59 PM

    Lance this post was actually very well written with a lot of interesting insights. I did not read the psychoanalytic viewpoint but I did hear a bit and this fear of relationships/human value and love for lust/materials seemed to represent the American Dream. The American 1920s told people to chase after wealth when in reality, wealth only brings instant gratification which does not last.

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  3. Sohil RamachandraNovember 16, 2019 at 5:19 PM

    The psychoanalytical perspective seemed very interesting to me even though I didn't read it. Varun (in our group he was the psychoanalytical perspective) discussed how the relationships in the novel had a shallow level. I had the feminist perspective how the women in the novel all had negative traits. I thought it was very interesting how Fitzgerald used the characters and relationships to demonstrate his ideas.

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