Why does Fitzgerald choose to insert a quote at the beginning of the novel?
(Capturing Caely-http://capturingcaely.blogspot.com/2012/06/book-review-24-great-gatsby-by-f-scott.html)
Fitzgerald chose to include this
quote at the beginning of the novel so the reader can have a perception of what
themes and ideas the novel is about.
In the novel, Mr. jay Gatsby is a
wealthy man who lives in West Egg. His large mansion does not cease to
fascinate people and his wild parties make strangers travel miles just to
experience it for themselves. But the character Fitzgerald creates (Jay Gatsby)
rarely mingles with his guests and does not seem content with his life. Therefore, this forces the reader to wonder
about what the character of Gatsby wants. The answer comes through the narrator
of the story (Nick Carraway) when he tells the audience that all the wealth his
friend, Jay Gatsby, has and the majestic parties he makes are to reconquer his
teenage love, Daisy Buchanan (Nick’s second cousin).
When Gatsby and Daisy were young
and in love, they wanted to marry each other. But there was a setback Daisy was
raised in a wealthy, respectable family, and her parents wanted her to marry
someone of the same of higher status.
Gatsby was very poor and knew
that he stood no chance in realizing the expensive dreams his sweetheart had.
As a result, he became an officer and inherited all of his money from a
“deceased friend” years later. But in that period of time, Daisy had already
married Tom Buchanan. Consequently, Gatsby made it his life-long goal to
reconquer the heart of the woman he loved. Not only did Gatsvy love the woman
but also the wealth and status she represented. That is the reason why he built
his mansion across the bay from her house and had many parties, in the hope
that one day she would enter his life as a ray of sunshine.
Therefore, the quote by Thomas
Parke D’Invillers ties into the novel, as a description of what the character
of Gatsby was willing to do so that Daisy could return to him. Because of all
the traits he would have if he would achieve the “lover, gold-hatted” status;
he would be able to have Daisy crying “I must have you”.
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