“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.
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