What Are Some Important Quotes From The Great Gatsby

Nick begins the novel with wise advice his father once told him, “‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one...just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had”’(1). Nick starts off by reminding himself and informing that throughout the story, save your judgements to yourself and try to put yourself in his or her position. His words are also a reminder that in society today, people tend to judge too quickly and we need to remember that everyone is not in the same position as we are. There will always be someone more or less fortunate than us, and we must be grateful for what we are given.

I noticed another lesson through Daisy’s choice for security over love. When Gatsby and Tom were fighting, Gatsby mentioned something striking, “‘She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me”’ (130). I was not surprised that Daisy didn’t wait for Gatsby because he was poor; but, I am shocked that he believes love should be about money. Daisy never loved Tom, which she

revealed, she married him for his money. Her one priority in life is money, Gatsby explained, “‘Her voice is full of money”’ (120). Daisy didn’t wait for Gatsby because he was poor, what type of relationship and love is that? There is one point when Daisy realizes she could have had both money and love. When Gatsby shows Daisy all his lavish shirts she begins to cry, “‘They’re such beautiful shirts...It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such beautiful shirts before”’ (92). It was confusing why she started crying, but later on, I began to realize she is a selfish person that longs for someone who loves her as much as she loves them, but she’ll never be able to forget the aspect of money because it is what she is comfortable with. She is sad because she let go of someone who fulfilled all of her needs and desires. I interpret that Fitzgerald is showing that people sometimes marry each other for the incorrect reasons and that marriage and love should be more than just power, status, and money.

Moreover, hundreds of people attended Gatsby’s grand parties; yet, only ten people who were a little close to him, with the exception of his father, attended the funeral. Partiers would come to his house to have an enjoyable night and the majority of them never had the decency to try to introduce themselves, “Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission” (41). Gatsby never made the effort to become friends with anyone, his entire mission in life was to impress and get back with Daisy. He builds up his status, but not his relationships. I feel Fitzgerald is trying to say that humans tend to be over-involved with his or her status that he is unable to build a real or healthy relationships because he becomes too self obsessed.

Finally, I noticed a mockery of the upper-class.

When Myrtle called Tom during an ornate dinner, Jordan added, “‘She might have the decency not to telephone him at dinner time. Don’t you think?”’ (15). It’s a pretentious and silly overreaction, how would the woman know he was having dinner? Showing Jordan Baker is entitled and expects everyone knows when she is eating and becomes irritated when she is interrupted. Additionally, when Daisy told Nick she heard he was engaged, he corrected her by informing her the rumor was a lie, she then added, “We heard it from three people, so it must be true” (19). I don’t think Daisy is the only one who would say that in her class, it shows another example of her naïveness. The social groups are treated differently, which is not fair, but that’s how life is. No matter how hard Myrtle tried to become wealthy through Tom, Tom would never give in because her class will always be an important

factor.