Gatsby, the Player

Gatsby¡¯s greatness lies not in his prospect of his future, but in his uncompromising insistence to ¡°repeat the past¡±(116), when he irremediably fell in love with Daisy. The past life, to Gatsby, is the type that he can only conceive in romantic tales. The past happiness, however transient it was, is what Gatsby lives for. He wants desperately to retrieve the lost love and his most treasured values. Since no one can go back in time and relive the past, what Gatsby can only do is to make up a play, which involves practically all the dramatic elements: the fictitious characters, the dramatic plots which moves from beginning through climax to denouement, etc. But, unfortunately, no matter how Gatsby frets and struts on the stage, he is heard no more to the end of the play. His desolate funeral marks the fall of the curtain. Gatsby turns out to be ¡°a poor son of bitch¡±(183).

Gatsby¡¯s tragic play isn¡¯t a tale told by an idiot. Rather, it is told by such a confidence man who tends to reserve his judgement, while keeping an observant eye on what is going on around him. Although Nick, the narrator of the novel, is of less importance in Gatsby¡¯s

The conflict between Tom and Gatsby is all too short a play, revolving around the question whether Daisy has ever loved Tom or not. Daisy does detest Tom for his rudeness and his lewdness. But her bitterness for Tom fades away at Tom¡¯s repetitive questioning about her love for him. Both Tom and Gatsby are competing for Daisy¡¯s favor. The battle turns to Tom¡¯s favor when Daisy says to Gatsby, ¡°you want too much¡±(139). Daisy only thinks of the present when she does feel she loves Gatsby. While Gatsby¡¯s five-year devotion and all his romantic fancying are less important to her. This flat denial of Gatsby¡¯s dream proves to be too much for Gatsby to suffer. What Gatsby cares are the reward for and the realization of his dreams. Daisy¡¯s declaration that she loves him now is far from what he wants. Things seem to have slip from his grip through his fingers. But he still tries desperately to hold on the last hope that he thinks it is. His last effort to win Daisy over by taking over the responsibility of the car accident costs his life. The play ends with the hero¡¯s most unworthy death and his desolate funeral. Macbeth in his perceptive frenzy sees that life is but a walking shadow, which signifies nothing. Whereas, Gatsby dies before he can realize the meaninglessness of what he has been doing. Gatsby¡¯s play is even more tragic than Macbeth.

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