The Great Gatsby Pursuit Of Happiness

Living a life of happiness comes from doing things that you have a passion for. If you live without guidance from your passions, it is very hard to be content. In “The Great Gatsby” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a lot of individuals are hindered from true joy because they live for things that they aren’t passionate about. Finding satisfaction in life has to come from doing things that you’re passionate about, not things that only give you temporary happiness. The wealth and worldly possessions of an individual can make life fun but it can only be short lived if they aren’t happy about how they’re living. A quote that is very relevant in the context of this book is “The incomplete joys of this world will never satisfy the [human] heart” (Alexis

Gatsby is always throwing spectacular parties but he is never in attendance. He creates great memories and relationships for people that he doesn’t even know. “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars… On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past midnight, while his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains” (Fitzgerald 3.39). Gatsby gives so much to other people but never really benefits from his generosity. He hides from the socialization because of his sadness and lack of confidence. All Gatsby really wants is Daisy but she is married to Tom. This passage uses insect imagery like “men and girls came and went like moths” and “his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug” to draw attention to the different themes that are represented. One theme this passage represents is hospitality because it highlights the kindness of Gatsby for throwing these parties. The other evident theme is the misunderstanding of Gatsby. It shows how people feel about Gatsby and how he feels about himself because his luxurious Rolls-Royce does beneficial things for people(how people feel about him) while his station wagon just scampers around in isolation(how he feels about himself). He is passionate about being generous

One insight from this story that is completely relevant to today’s society is that people see wealth as automatic happiness. Gatsby is wealthy beyond belief but hardly ever has true happiness. Tom is the same way and lets his life revolve around wealth. In today’s society people necessitate wealth more than anything else. When a kid is asked what they want to be when they grow up the answer is often “whatever I can make the most money in”. In both “The Great Gatsby” and in our world money is an illusion that makes people perceive the wealthy as the content. Finding satisfaction in life has to come from doing things that you’re passionate about, not things that only give you temporary happiness. The wealth and worldly possessions of an individual can make life amazing but it can only be short lived if they aren’t happy about how they’re living. The main point that should be taken from this story is that money can’t buy happiness because characters that live the most luxurious lifestyles are the ones that deal with the most