A New Outlook on the Future in The Great Gatsby

We can learn lessons in many ways we wouldn't expect. Some learn them from going out into the world, making mistakes, or something as simple as reading a book like The Great Gatsby. Although the past can help you learn from your choices, that doesn't mean you should always repeat it. It might not be easy but it is something I feel we should all learn. We all deserve a chance at happiness. 

The past is defined as a time period that happens before a moment of writing or speaking. Things from the past are always with us. The way we learn is from the past, so if we repeat it we can’t grow from it. Many people don't believe this, including Jay Gatsby. We can see this very clearly when the author writes, “You can’t repeat the past.” “Can’t repeat the past?” he cried incredulously. “Why of course you can!” he looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand. “I'm going to fix everything just the way it was before!” Although Gatsby believed that going back to something that ended five years ago was a good idea he soon learned the opposite. If we repeat the past it might not end death as it did for Gatsby, but we wouldn't be growing and improving our lives.  

Another important thing to learn from this book is that you need to do what makes you happy. The dictionary defines happiness as a state of being happy. Well, what is that exactly? I believe that being truly happy is doing what is best for you and not anyone else. In the book, we learn about the relationship between Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby. We are told that Gatsby and Daisy truly did love each other and were happy, but in their minds happiness was money. This mindset caused Gatsby to leave, Daisy to marry Tom, and no one is happy. We also see this in the affair with Tom and Myrtle. Everyone was too caught up in the idea of the “Great American Dream'' that they couldn't see the pain it was causing to them and the people around them. Some people realized this pain a little too late. For example, Daisy married Tom for money, soon realizing it's not all she thought it would be. All the parties, nice clothes, and things they had didn't really matter if she was unhappy.   

I know there are many lessons to be learned from the book but these are the ones that stuck out to me the most. When we spend so much time focusing on the past we are going to miss all the amazing opportunities right out in front of us. These new opportunities bring us one step closer to making us even happier.