Running towards the Past

"He had passed visibly through two states and was entering upon a third. After his embarrassment and his unreasoning joy he was consumed with wonder at her presence. He had been full of the idea so long, dreamed it right through to the end, waited with his teeth set, so to speak, at a inconceivable pitch of intensity. Now, in the reaction, he was running down like an overwound clock" (Fitzgerald 91-92)

I really like this passage of The Great Gatsby for many reasons. It follows the scene where Gatsby and Daisy reunite after almost 5 years. This particular scene is when Nick describes Gatsby as Daisy is so overwhelmed by the mansion.

The first thing I noticed was that it shows the emotion within Gatsby. It shows how much this relationship with Daisy means to him, so much so that he is almost embarrassed or nervous to even talk to her. This points to the breaks and flaws in Gatsby, areas that his fake built-up self cannot cover. In a sense, Daisy is the "kryptonite" to Gatsby - his only weakness. This Dream, his American Dream to get rich and be with Daisy, looks to him to be in reach. Just her presence next to him makes him feel as though he has accomplished something in his life. The way Fitzgerald says "consumed ... at her presence" foreshadows that his eventual death would be the fault of his attraction for her. Gatsby takes the blame, as the so-called "savior", for Daisy's actions which leads to Wilson killing Gatsby.

Another thing I noticed was how Nick describes Gatsby to be "an overwound clock". This brings back the point about the "defunct mantelpiece clock" and how Gatsby is only in search of something from the past. His obsession with this past relationship makes him do anything to attain it. This "overwound clock" shows how he is so full of energy next to Daisy's presence, but at a point, suddenly, it will snap and lead to Gatsby's death. This also foreshadows Gatsby's death in a sense because it shows that he has reached his goal, and will now "run down". Gatsby is so stuck in the past and that is one of his biggest flaws. He fails to understand the truth in Nick's statement "you can't repeat the past". The "mantelpiece clock" is already broken which gives evidence to Nick's claim, that this relationship with Daisy is already over.

After reading the complete novel, there are so many little parts like this that foreshadow Gatsby's death which I completely missed when reading it. I really enjoyed reading and discussing this novel, and now to tie it all together WE SHOULD WATCH THE MOVIE IN CLASS! Help this cause by signing this petition.