The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. The decadence and depravity that overtook America before the Great Depression are shown objectively in this narrative. But what life lessons can students and all the readers learn from this iconic novel? Read on to find out. We will talk about each lesson in a separate paragraph to keep things clear and simple.
So What Are The Life Lessons Students Learn from Analyzing’ The Great Gatsby’
1. Don’t be judgy
Fitzgerald gives the reader sound advice from the beginning of the book on how to get the most out of their reading experience. The story begins with the narrator, Nick, recounting a phrase his father told him when he was younger.
Nick’s wise father advised his son to realize one simple fact: all the people in the world haven’t got the privileges that you’ve had. That’s why you can’t judge anyone. By making this comment, Fitzgerald plants the seed in the reader’s mind that they should exercise caution before passing judgment on any of the novel’s characters or people around.
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2. Happiness is priceless
The striking disparity between outward appearances and the truth is constantly brought into focus throughout “The Great Gatsby.” We see people like Daisy, Tom, Jordan, and Gatsby amass enormous fortunes, yet none of them seems to have found the secret of true happiness. Daisy’s misery in her marriage and her apathy toward her kid is hidden behind a veil of wealth, just as Tom’s extramarital relationships and aggressive tendencies are hidden under financial success.
And finally, the protagonist Gatsby, the most prosperous of them all, is also the most miserable. A despondent spirit is hidden behind extravagant parties and luxury estates. Gatsby has sacrificed everything for something that he may never have. So, it turns out money can’t buy happiness.
3. Not everything is as it seems
People have been led astray throughout history by the thin boundary separating truth from delusion. Consequently, Fitzgerald utilizes each character in his work as a literary technique to illustrate the difference between outward appearances and the truth. Who would have guessed that such misery could be concealed by such fortune? The subjectivity of truth and reality is brought into question during this book. There is no such thing as what it appears, regardless of how flawless anything may seem to be.
4. Know what you want
The novel examines a significant component of human nature, namely the constant restlessness that characterizes human beings. Knowing what you want, even if it’s the spell for good grades, can give you the inspiration to move on. Daisy, Tom, and Jordan are clueless about the meaning of the term “desire”. Money gave them the freedom to choose, but they didn’t know what they wanted. As a result, they wander through life.
Gatsby stands out from the other characters because, in Nick’s words, he is the person who lends his name to this novel. He does, in fact, have a goal, which is to win Daisy’s love, and everything he does, from the moment he breathes his first breath until the moment he breathes his last, is done to achieve that objective.
It’s possible that some people won’t find his objective healthy. However, his motives are honourable, and the extent of his efforts cannot be questioned. Because of this, Gatsby deserves to be admired. By concentrating the story on a protagonist intent on accomplishing his goals, Fitzgerald encourages the reader to develop a feeling of purpose.
5. Enjoy the here and now
Psychologists prove that living in the moment can really make you happier. Everyone can become a student for a while and learn how to improve their quality of life. Enjoying the here and now could be the best topic for a research paper in this regard. Fitzgerald tries to prove the same thing to a reader by showing us a completely unhappy man stuck in the past. Through the use of metaphors and other symbolic techniques, Fitzgerald clearly shows that Gatsby cannot go forward in time. Gatsby’s incapacity to acknowledge the passage of time remains a distinguishing trait. It is this trait that ultimately leads to Gatsby’s destruction.
In his mind, Jay Gatsby always finds a way to overcome the challenges that stand in the way of his plans so that he may live out his dream. Even though Daisy is already a mother, he insists on erasing the years she spent with Tom. And of how hard he tries to win Daisy over, he will never be successful. Gatsby does not want the Daisy that is now in front of him. He can’t stop thinking about Daisy from all those years ago, even if she no longer exists outside his mind.
6. Hope is wonderful but often fruitless
The story devotes a great deal of time and energy to investigating the thin line that separates the noble and the fruitless pursuit of hope. On the one hand, it is impossible to ignore the lying, plotting, and illegal conduct that Gatsby engages in and the extent to which he has hope.
However, Gatsby dies by himself in the end, despite his unceasing efforts, excessive rigidity, and remarkable optimism. On the other side, Nick put it quite well when he said that Gatsby came out fine in the end. Gatsby lived a noble life and fought valiantly for his desire, even when it was dubious. And right up to the moment he took his last breath, he never gave up on his optimism; that was his unique gift.
7. Courage for changes
You are probably aware that Gatsby did not have the most illustrious beginning in his life. Nevertheless, he was successful in changing his fortune. The novel teaches us that a person should keep trying to achieve success. Whether it’s a student contract for grades or a job interview, try your best to reach the target. Your efforts will pay you back anyway.
In a nutshell, the lesson we can take away from this is that it is never too late to adjust your trajectory in life. Everyone must struggle their way through life barriers. We learn how to overcome difficulties, from teacher comments for students’ writing to living after personal dramas. You will get stronger due to the challenges and difficulties you endure.
8. Don’t forget who you are
People who were born in luxury are not only distinguished by wealth. Very often, such people have a different vision of life formed from childhood. The protagonist tries to become one of the rich, to become like Daisy. But despite all the money earned, he did not change internally. For Daisy and her husband, he was still a stranger. Perhaps if Gatsby realized that it was impossible to fundamentally change his identity for love, things might not have ended so sadly.
Conclusion
The iconic American novel The Great Gatsby teaches us many lessons. The great thing about this book is its deepness. Everyone can discover something new with a new reading. Also, literature allows us to find our own senses in the writer’s words. After all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
