Powerful life lessons from 'The Great Gatsby'
What's the story
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald takes readers into the lavish yet chaotic world of the 1920s.
From its protagonists to the characters they meet, the novel gives us a peek into the very essence of mankind and society.
The lessons still hold true, teaching us about ambition, love, wealth, and much more.
Here are five life lessons we can learn from the classic.
Drive 1
The illusion of the American Dream
In The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is an illusion.
The characters chase wealth and status hoping to achieve happiness but often end up unfulfilled.
This underscores how material success doesn't ensure personal satisfaction or contentment.
The novel preaches that true fulfillment comes from within rather than from external achievements.
Drive 2
The complexity of love
Love in The Great Gatsby is complicated, to say the least. Relationships are ridden with passion, betrayal, and yearning.
The novel beautifully showcases how love can be both, a boon and a curse. Especially when it is mixed with selfish desires or the pressure of society.
It also reminds us to be honest and have integrity in relationships.
Drive 3
The power of perception
Perception is a key theme in The Great Gatsby.
Characters frequently showcase a different version of themselves to others than who they really are, resulting in misconceptions and clashes.
This lesson stresses the need to keep it real when dealing with others, while acknowledging the fact that perceptions can create the world for you.
Drive 4
Consequences of excessive ambition
Another theme explored in The Great Gatsby is excessive ambition.
Characters fueled by relentless ambition often end up facing dire consequences, either due to their actions or the choices they make along the way to success at any cost, without thinking about ethical implications or personal well-being.
Drive 5
Importance of self-reflection
Self-reflection also comes across as an important element throughout The Great Gatsby.
Characters who don't reflect on their actions or motivations, often repeat mistakes without learning valuable lessons from the past.
This emphasizes how introspection helps with personal growth by fostering awareness about one's strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, etc, which ultimately directs you towards better decision-making processes and overall development over time.