So we beat on--

[trinityofone]

Today I am supposed to: write my Great Gatsby essay.

Today I have:

1) Managed a vague outline of my Great Gatsby essay while mostly looking over various bits of the book and sobbing, sobbing, because no book ever has or does move me like this one; it tears me apart and I am totally inadequate to the task of explaining why.

2) Eaten a sandwich.

But seriously, regarding 1)--I maintain and will continue to maintain that Gatsby is the greatest novel ever written, packing more into less than 200 pages than what others can manage in nearly 2,000 (and I have read War and Peace, so I know *g*). I cry every time I read it (and when I'm reviewing my notes to write an essay on it, apparently). Those of you who have read it: does it effect you in the same way? The class I'm writing the essay for is an American Lit class taught at an Irish university; the tutor has stressed that she thinks the novel highlights American themes--do you think that's true? I would say that the themes of Gatsby--trying to recapture the past, yearning to be known, loved--are universal. But then I am American, so I could be projecting. We do that.

What's your favorite book of all time? What book has moved you more than any other?

Comments

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Your interpretation is so interesting, because it's the exact opposite of my twist on it. See, I'd thought of Rodney as Gatsby, and John as Nick. Rodney as the one destined for tragedy, John as the observer, and the one who tells the story.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

Huh. That doesn't work for me quite as well. First, I just don't see Rodney as enigmatic enough to be Gatsby--he's so on-the-surface, in-your-face, there. He's not a secret-keeper. John, on the other hand, is all secrets. He's a man "without a past," a man whom everyone loves without really knowing, or even wanting to know. He is, in my mind, much more destined for tragedy--although not, like Gatsby, over a woman: John would martyr himself for a cause, for his city. And while I would never discount that Rodney is a great man, destined for great things, I think he would surprise himself and everyone else with his willingness to take a step back, and tell John's story: to stand for him, when no one else will.

I'd love to hear more of your interpretation, though. As you can see, this is eating my brain. *g*

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

I think it's because I feel like I know John better than Rodney. Rodney, although everything seems to be on the surface, keeps surprising me. There's depths there, and a past I haven't seen. Also, for him, the idea of the self-created man (the degrees, etc.) and the fact that he keeps pushing his "genius" and education in people's faces. It's like he's created this personna for himself, elevated himself to a height which I imagine he won't be able to sustain.

John, yes, there are also secrets there, but I feel like so much more of what I see of him is who he really is.

That said, I agree that John would martyr himself for a cause. But Rodney would give himself for an idea.

[trinityofone.livejournal.com]

You feel like you know John better than Rodney? Really? But...

...and here I was about to launch into an argument about how we know next to nothing about him, his past is shrouded in mystery, etc. But then I realized that we know next to nothing about Nick, either: that by the end of the book, he's as much of or more of a mystery than Gatsby. So yeah, let's just call that one a draw, shall we? ;-)

I definitely agree that Rodney's got a lot going on beneath the surface--certainly more than people (and by that I mean "the people he works with," although yeah, people in fandom, too, I'm sure) realize. However, I don't really see his "I am a genius and smarter than you and I will fix this while you curse your tragic stupidity" thing as a persona--it's true, both in that 1) he really believes it, and 2) he's right: he really is a genius, and he really is the one to fix it and save them all a lot of the time. Sure, sometimes it comes crashing down on him (hello, 'Trinity'!) but not in a way that's gonna ruin him, I don't think. (I hope.)

John, on the other hand, is all persona. That easy-going, laid-back, flyboy routine he's got going is as pasted on as Gatsby's pink suits and "old sport"s. Some of that may be authentically John, but IMO, it's just the tip of the iceberg.

Re-watch 'Home.' I kept think about John's fake flat when I was reading about Gatsby's mansion. The parties where everyone just shows up. Where all the guests are strangers. Ghosts.

That said, I agree that John would martyr himself for a cause. But Rodney would give himself for an idea.

You're right. *snuggles them both* But I think that works for either interpretation. Because in the end, Nick throws himself in with Gatsby: "scornful solidarity...Gatsby and me against them all." It's so romantic.

[roaringmice.livejournal.com]

Rewatch "Home"? I just saw it for the first time last night. What a brilliant episode. I loved John's flat - so hyper-batchelor-pad-circa-1992. And it didn't exist - never had existed, except as a half-wish in his mind.