"The Great Gatsby" Reading Log - Chapter 9 "The End"

Chapter 9 was a depressing final chapter to "The Great Gatsby " for me. Finding that no one ended up coming to Gatsby's funeral was upsetting. The only people who come to Gatsby's funeral are Nick, the minister, Henry Gatz (Gatsby's father), four or five servants, the West Egg postman, and Owl Eyes (the man who attended one of Gatsby's parties). No one else came to the funeral for several reasons. Gatsby's business partner, Wolfsheim, did not come because he was a gangster and did not want to be publicly linked with Gatsby. Tom and Daisy did not come because they had left town to avoid any investigation into Myrtle Wilson's death and Gatsby's death. The hundreds of people who came to Gatsby's parties did not come because they had no relationship with Gatsby; they only came to his house to eat his food, drink his alcohol, and have a good time. They used him, in other words. Gatsby had no friends i suppose you could say. All he had was nick, and even Nick wasn't very fond of Gatsby but he admired him in several ways. Gatsby only really got close to Nick so he could have a chance with Daisy, so personally i wouldn't even consider them friends. nevertheless Nick still attended the funeral. Gatsby had everything, but he lived for one reason and one person, and getting involved ended up killing him in the end. His dream is what killed him. The American dream is to have a full well off family and to live in a good neighborhood with good food to eat and a sturdy shelter to live and the family is able to sustainably provide for their family. Did Gatsby live "The American Dream"? This version, he may not have, but he lived what we today strongly believe is "The American Dream". I believe the version people think of today is to be wealthy. With wealth came social status and generally good looks and luxury items. Usually one married into a rich family and would have a child together all this put together is the indirect definition of the main driving force behind the American dream. I believes that people are greedy and put them self’s first. Today or even back in the 20's If you have money, women and luxurious things you are living "The American Dream". Over all I found it be a great read! i'd consider reading it a second time to pick up on a lot of other details that I may have missed. Great short novel, look forward to seeing the new 2013 movie!

George Carlin on "the American Dream"

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