I loved the Great Gatsby. Rereading this book brought back so many memories for me. I first read this book when I was in the 11th grade. I read it for Ms. Miller’s English class. Reading this book again I felt like it opened a floodgate of memories. I remember the layout of her room, how it had no windows and when I first was in her class…thought it was much more like a prison than a classroom. But as I grew to understand her more I loved her class and would focus on things that were happy about her room like the way she would decorate it especially for the holidays.
Another memory that I have of this book is that Ms. Miller is just how I would picture Myrtle looking. This short pleasantly plump woman with short dark hair and lips that are slightly too big for her face, maybe she had surgery to enhance them, but then again her circumstances of living on a teacher’s salary don’t really permit that kind of thing. Although, I believed Myrtle to be far more materialistic and greedy than Ms. Miller I still can’t help but relate the two when I think of the Great Gatsby.
Furthermore, I think about high school and all the drama that existed and all the lies and the deceit, much like Gatsby, to impress people that you liked. I admit that I grew up in a humble home. My father was self employed which means money was tight and never allowed to purchase of those brand name pants everyone was wearing or buying me a car for my 16th birthday like many of my friends received. Sometimes I would find myself thinking like Gatsby…if I could just hid my background and how I grew up and somehow become famous I could impress that attractive boy who every girl is dying to have as their boyfriend. Then maybe the popular girls would want to be my friend too and laugh at my jokes and tell me how I pretty I am instead of glaring at me for looking in their direction in my Wal-Mart jeans and my non highlighted bleach blonde hair.
Now as I have had a chance to grow up and learn what is truly important in life I find myself rereading The Great Gatsby. This time the character that I feel like I relate too is Nick. Someone how is impressed by the money that is before him, but who can take a step back and evaluate the lives of those around him and how they are truly miserable. It helps me to look back on those high school days and realize that the popular girls were dumb, they were rude and thought only of themselves and would talk bad about the person in their group who wasn’t there. They aren’t the kind of friends I had or would want to have. As for that cute boy, he ended up going bald, spending his college career partying and wasting his life then had to get married.
What happened to me? Well I must say that I think that I am doing pretty well. I got into the college I wanted to, then took some time off to work at a very prestigious job that made all the popular girls jealous and I married the man of my dreams and have a beautiful daughter. I am finishing up my degree and am loving every minute of my life.
Isn’t it amazing how one little book can trigger all those memories, thought, feelings, and can really help you change as a person?
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