Moving Out of the Big Apple

                            From my whole experience in New York, I have found the city to be rather cold hearted. People are inconsiderate of others, and only think of the future for themselves. My entire outlook on like has changed. I now see humanity with different eyes. No longer hopeful about the good in everyone, but cynical of humankind. I am just so tired of living around people lacking any moral backbone. Life in West Egg and time spent around the people of East Egg has taught me a valuable lesson in life, and I am happy that my time in New York is coming to an end. Those in East Egg along with Daisy and Tom are perfect examples of how far gone one can be from realizing the truth about life. These people rely on their wealth to make them happy, failing to see the true purpose in life, a purpose that results in happiness. Money is not a crutch, one can lean on to prevent consequences. Jay Gatsby is proof that through acquiring wealth and status, one still cannot reach happiness and find love. Money and wealth ended up getting in Gatsby’s way.

                           Fortunately all of my time in New York hasn’t been wasted though. I have learned so much through Jay Gatsby, and I am forever grateful for our friendship. My New York experience has led me to a realization and an appreciation of my home town, Minnesota. I can no longer stay in this corrupt town of New York. This place fails in comparison to the wholehearted Midwest. It is a shame that a person like Jay Gatsby cannot be fully appreciated by others. He instead is misunderstood by those not willing to put in any effort to understand him. This, unfortunately, is just another one of the many flaws of society. 

My One and Only Compliment

              Like I said before, I really make an effort to be candid, giving the truth, bad or good. To be fair, Gatsby does have some flaws in his personality, like romanticizing his relationship with Daisy, but for the most part I think he is a great person with substance. That is why I had to tell Gatsby. Compliments are always nice to get, but when they’re truthful, they’re all the more better.

              I just had a devil of a time sleeping the last night. My mind kept drifting to the eventful day before, when Daisy in Gatsby’s yellow car, hit and killed Myrtle Wilson. Gatsby decided to stay outside Daisy’s house to ensure that she would be safe in Tom’s presence. I tried to convince Gatsby to come back to West Egg, but headstrong he declined the offer. The next morning, I headed next door to Gatsby’s. I was running late for work and I had regretfully passed up the offer to go for a swim on the last day it would be open. But before I left, I gave Gatsby the only positive thing I had ever told him, a compliment.

                           Gatsby had become a close friend over the brief time we spent together, we became fond of each other’s company. I became aware of how great of a person he was, inside and out. I don’t believe he should involve himself in the drama that is Daisy Buchanan. My exact words were, “They're a rotten crowd...your worth the whole damn bunch put together.” And I meant every word of it. I just wish that Gatsby could see it that way. He has wasted his life loving someone that is not good enough for him. But of course, it is too late now, and Daisy hasn’t even learned a single lesson from the whole situation.  

Telling Gatsby The Cold Hard Truth

                  I have always tried my hardest to be a very honest and accepting person. So I felt that it was my responsibility as a friend of Gatsby’s to give him my humble opinion. I didn’t intend to hurt his feelings or put him down in any way, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself, if I wasn’t one hundred percent honest. I still feel somewhat bad after telling him, but it needed to be said. It happened after one of Gatsby’s parties that didn’t give the best of times to Daisy and Tom. Gatsby was so down, because Daisy wasn’t having a great time. He wanted so desperately to recreate the past with her, to turn back the clocks and repeat their earlier days when they fell in love. I had to remind him that he can’t recreate the past, because repeating the past has never benefited anyone as history has proven. I just feel that Gatsby has put Daisy up on the unrealistic pedestal that she won’t ever be able to accomplish. All the time, Gatsby has waited to come into contact with Daisy, and throwing lavish parties hoping she will end up in his home, hasn’t helped him, only lead to this built up fantasy. I just have this feeling that Gatsby’s plan will backfire and end up harming him more than giving him happiness. 

                 But what bothered me most about the situation, was Gatsby’s response. He didn’t recognize or appreciate my helpful advice. I think he is just in denial and soon will come to grasp my understanding. For some crazy reason, he has this strong notion that money can accomplish anything, even love and happiness. Through his money, he is going to try to win back the love of his life. I, of course, hope it will work, but unfortunately I don’t believe it will. I just want to put his feelings first, because I believe deep down that he is a good person and doesn’t deserve to be a part of Tom and Daisy’s love triangle. I just wish that Daisy doesn’t inhibit his happiness. He deserves much better. 

Information Filled Lunch with Gatsby

              Jay Gatsby and I went to lunch in the city. He drove in his car, this really expensive yellow Rolls-Royce. It must have cost him a fortune, but that of course couldn’t have been a problem for him. On the way there, he told me all about his past, growing up. I didn’t believe much of what he said. It just felt all made up in order to impress. It all didn’t seem very probable, instead much doctored up. I tried my best not to show any sense of doubtfulness. But how could I, when he depicted such a perfect life? He talked about attending Oxford, going into the war, growing up in San Francisco with a wealthy family, and collecting numerous jewels in Europe. Finally when I showed skepticism, he pulled out proof in the form of pictures and a metal awarded to him during World War I. Now I’m still unsure what to believe.

                           Something else seemed off with Gatsby, like he may be involved in some shady business. For example, when we were driving through the Valley of Ashes, Gatsby was driving awfully fast and a police officer pulled the car over. All Gatsby had to do was show a white card in order to get out of any trouble. The officer even apologized for not recognizing Gatsby and bothering him. I just sat there in amazement not comprehending how one can be above the law under any circumstances. It doesn’t make any sense, unless Gatsby has the right connections. So many thoughts raced through my mind, and I didn’t know how I felt about Gatsby.

             Then during lunch, I met Meyer Wolfshiem for the first time. I was extremely uncomfortable in his presence. I could tell he was not the most favorable person in the eyes of the law. Wolfshiem definitely must be involved in some sort of crime and maybe partnered up with Gatsby. I’m starting to get a different and uneasy feeling about Gatsby. Since the night I saw him reaching out to a green light, he has become even more of a mystery. 

Gatsby's Request

After lunch with Jay Gatsby, I found out about the private conversation between Jordan and Gatsby the night of the first party I attended. Jordan informed me about Gatsby’s past love life. While stationed near Daisy’s home during the war, Gatsby and Daisy fell deeply in love. But when Gatsby had to go over sees, Daisy married Tom Buchanan, whom I attended college with. The only reason Gatsby bought his house, was because it was overlooking Daisy and Tom’s house across the water. Maybe if he had so many fancy parties, Daisy would eventually show up to one of them. Instantly I connected the dots. The night when I came back home from dinner with Daisy and Tom, Gatsby was looking into the distance of Daisy’s house. I had never realized the reason Gatsby was standing outside in the dark night. Jordan then explained how Gatsby wanted me to invite Daisy over for tea, not knowing that Gatsby would arrive shortly. It all made sense now as to why Gatsby befriended me. It just seemed so odd, how Gatsby needed to inform me through Jordan, rather than asking me face to face.

The next time I saw Gatsby, he was eager to please me. He invited me for lunch and then a swim in his pool. Gatsby’s disposition was extremely nervous, offering to pay for my lawn to be trimmed and offering me a job in addition to the job I had in the bond business. It was so offensive the way Gatsby groveled in order to get something he wanted. But when I thought of all Jordan told me, I agreed to coordinate a meeting for tea between the two. I know Gatsby didn’t intent to offend me, it was just depreciating that he would think I would only do it for specific conditions. Of course I declined all his random offers.

One of Gatsby's Many Parties

I had just received an invitation to one of Gatsby’s famous parties. There was a pool and beach, numerous crates of oranges and lemons, multiple tents containing dinner foods, and an orchestra band. I met up with Jordan Baker, since she was the only familiar face I recognized. Since the night I saw Gatsby looking at the greenlight across the water, Jay Gatsby had become a mystery to me. Throughout the course of the party, I heard various different gossips of Gatsby’s past. No one seemed to know the truth and actual whereabouts of Gatsby. It wasn’t until I sat at the same table with Jay Gatsby, till I released who he was. After talking for a while, he seemed to be a well- educated, likeable person. I noticed that Gatsby kept himself distant from the rest of the party, as if watching over all his guests. He never would drink either, maybe to keep his mind in the best shape to talk to strangers. Later that night, Gatsby talked solely with Jordan. I was confused as to why, but enjoyed my time watching all the festivities take place. I sat at the bar trying to distinguish between all the wild rumors going around centered on Gatsby. I found it hard to believe, that he is as notorious as the rumors make him seem.