The Beginning of the End

“There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired” (Fitzgerald, 79).

I think with this quote Fitzgerald points out a major theme in The Great Gatsby.  This absolute can be applied to particular characters from the novel.  Daisy Buchanan represents the pursued, who, in most cases, have no idea they are being pursued.  There is the pursuing, Jay Gatsby who appears like Daisy’s stalker in various sections of the novel.  A life of pursuit also presents a depressing characteristic to Fitzgerald’s novel that has quite a sense of weight behind it.  Tom and Myrtle are the “tired” who have given up on being happy with life which is also gives a darker aspect to the novel.  Then, there are the “busy” who do not have time to do anything which sounds paradoxical and confusing.  Additionally, I am not positive this group is represented well in Fitzgerald’s novel.  Gatsby is busy; however, much of that busy aspect constitutes making everyone believe a lie which, to me, is also a paradox.