The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is replete with informative moral lessons. These lessons can be applied to your everyday life, balancing the mind at a peaceful state. From the wise words of Nick Carraway to the unmasking of Jay Gatsby, the reader experiences a plethora of beneficial knowledge to apply in everyday situations.
1. Don’t pretend to be someone you are not: Possibly the greatest illusion a reader will ever encounter, the truth behind the famous Jay Gatsby completely overturns all the envy and likability associated with his character. Gatsby’s silk shirts, expensive cars, and picturesque houses all meant nothing at the end when the truth came out. All the friends who once were in business with him never showed up at his funeral. It just goes to show, people don’t respect frauds.
2. Don’t be hypocritical: Tom Buchanan was notoriously cheating on his wife, Daisy, with Mrs. Wilson. As the book progressed, Gatsby’s feelings for Daisy resurfaced, sparking Tom’s feelings of anger for Daisy’s adultery. In reality, he was angry at his wife for cheating when he was doing the same thing in turn. Tom ends up represented as a broken man that even Nick chooses to ignore.
3. Don’t rush into love: Near the end of the story, Gatsby brings up the fact that Daisy still had feelings for him, even though she had been abruptly married to Tom. Tom failed to realize the importance of making sure of oneself before committing to something as important as marriage.