What Are The Similarities Between The Great Gatsby And Ordinary People

Through works of literature, readers find themselves getting lost in situations both familiar and strange. In both The Great Gatsby and Ordinary People, I can imagine myself in the position of both Daisy Buchanan and Dr. Berger respectively. I believe that Daisy, the love of Gatsby’s life, and I are similar because both of us are driven by our emotions; however, unlike Daisy, who is materialistic, I appreciate the value of my belongings . Dr. Berger, a psychiatrist in Ordinary People, and I also share the traits of being understanding and helpful; despite these similarities, Dr. Berger is different in that he has twenty more years of experience dealing with complex situations.

Throughout the story, it is shown that Daisy is driven by her

emotions. As the story progresses, she becomes more and more controlled by her emotional decisions.
The night before Daisy’s wedding she receives a letter from her sweetheart who has returned from the war. After having too much to drink, Daisy retreats to the bathtub in her suite where she refuses to surrender the letter Gatsby sent her. Fitzgerald writes, “She began to cry- she cried and cried. I rushed out and found her mother's maid and we locked the door and got her into a cold bath. She wouldn't let go of the letter. She took it into the tub with her and squeezed it up into a wet ball and only let me leave it in the soap dish when she saw that it was coming to pieces like snow”(81). Similarly in my life, I often discover situations where I refuse let go of the past. After any competitive sporting event, it is often impossible for me to let go of the negativity associated with losing. Although I understand that you can not change the past, replaying the situation I realize I could have been more productive. Analyzing Daisy’s situation, I recognise the power emotions can have on a life.
Emotional people usually possess a desire to help others. As an emotional person I find myself looking for ways to assist my peers. Dr. Berger, a physiatrist from Ordinary People, is open minded and assists Conrad in reconnecting with his family after facing frustrations associated his suicide attempt. As the frustration builds inside of Conrad, he looks to Berger for guidance on how to handle it. In response, Berger teaches Conrad to realize, "Maybe you gotta feel lousy sometime, in order to feel better. A little advice, kiddo, about feeling. Don't think too much about it. And don't expect it always to tickle." Like Dr. Berger, I am open to supporting to those in need. Regularly I volunteer my time with an organization that assists children with autism. After their daughter experienced balance problems, a family approached the coaching staff for help. With open, arms I accepted the challenge. After years of struggling this girl is able to function without restraints on her capabilities. In different ways, both Berger and I have helped transform the lives of others.

Although both Daisy and I share a connection, we have our respective differences.

Daisy shows a desire for materialistic items in this novel when she faces a dilemma to either wait for her true love to prove himself as a wealthy man or choose a man of established wealth. This shows how Daisy is materialistic possessions because she decided to have what she wanted instantly gratification instead of waiting for wealth. The reader knows this because when Gatsby confronts Tom he exclaims, “She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except for me” (130).I however, do not share a concern over materialistic things. I believe that materialistic items have no effect on happy a person is. I learned this value when, for the first time, I met my cousins from Israel. Living on a limited salary at home, they invested their life savings into coming to meet us. This experience taught me that having a luxurious car or a new chain are much more insignificant ways of using the money to value the opportunities of life. In addition, I find myself wanting to have more experience entitling me to change many lives instead of the one that I have affected. Unlike my inexperience helping autistic children Berger's many situations have helped him to better understand and impact those in need. Berger’s suggestions to help Conrad handle his anger, "Geez, if I could get through to you, kiddo, that depression is not sobbing and crying and giving vent, it is plain and simple reduction of feeling. Reduction, see? Of all feeling. People who keep stiff upper lips find that it's damn hard to smile." are formulated by years of experience and expertise. Berger is able to advise his patients individually, nonetheless I needed the assistance and proficiency of the coaching

staff.
After having read both The Great Gatsby and Ordinary People, it is evident that I could foresee myself in Daisy’s and Dr. Berger’s positions. Thought these works of literature, I have experienced familiar feelings and perspectives as Berger and Daisy. Daisy and I are alike in the way we handle our emotions, and Berger and I both try to have a positive influence on the lives of others.