The songs in the order reflect the various attitudes Gatsby expresses throughout Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, capturing stages of Gatsby’s life in the pursuit of his dream. Like Fitzgerald’s initial characterization of Gatsby, the first song is very upbeat and more telling of wealth and glamor, while the other three seem to progressively get more focused on his perseverance, devotion, and then lastly his blindness to reality. The song "Ghetto Supastar (That is What You Are)" by Pras parallels Gatsby’s own journey to wealth, starting with how they both express motivations for leaving their impoverished upbringing and pursuing success and riches. Both narratives share references to their success, hard work, and achievement.The lyrics in the song, "coming from afar, reaching for the stars," reflect Gatsby's ambition and his instinct towards his future glory. This is highlighted in the text (99). Gatsby creates a schedule an
...d general resolves to improve himself and become a more refined individual.
In his pursuit of wealth, Gatsby engages in crime and bootlegging with Meyer Wolfsheim, buying "drug-stores... and [selling] grain alcohol over the counter" (133), similar to Ghetto Supastar's schemes of abandoning "drug stores" for "the streets". However, this ultimately causes Daisy to reject Gatsby. Ultimately, Ghetto Supastar shares the same ambitious and hardworking trait that aids Gatsby in pursuing his dream and also ultimately leads to Gatsby's downfall.
Inability to Let Go of the Past
Baby, I’m Yours by Breakbot ft.
Irfrane
Gatsby’s
entire vision depends on him replicating the past, however, it appears his thoughts are entangled in nostalgia and he is incapable of moving on.
He yearns for things to be precisely as they were five years ago. He has a strong conviction that he can restore everything to its original state (110). The lyrics of Baby, I'm Yours also revolve around a past relationship and view the significant other as a "clock, that was ticking in [their] heart." The imagery of a clock also appears in The Great
Gatsby
.
Gatsby
is excessively preoccupied with reversing the passage of time. However, he ultimately realizes that he himself is diminishing like an excessively wound clock (92) and cannot escape the relentless march of time.
Devotion
The song "Africa" by Toto symbolizes
Gatsby's
unwavering dedication. Throughout the book, he remains steadfast in his pursuit of winning Daisy's love. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks,
Gatsby
remains faithful to his idealized vision of their relationship until the very end (98).
Like the song, “there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do” to waiver
Gatsby’s
dedication to Daisy.
Delusion
Heart of Glass - Special Mix by Blondie
Gatsby’s
love for Daisy is all an illusion. His illusion springs “from his Platonic conception”(98). Nick speculates that “there must have been moments that… Daisy tumbled short of [
Gatsby’s
] illusion” (after Daisy and
Gatsby
reunite) because his love for her over the years has been kindled by “the colossal
vitality of his illusion”(95). Similarly, Blondie tells of how her lover is using her, and she is “lost inside adorable illusion” like
Gatsby
, who willingly blinds himself to the truth about Daisy.
Daisy, who had no intentions of having any involvement with Gatsby at all. To her, their relationship was merely a brief affair, while it held great significance in Gatsby's mind.
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