In The Great Gatsby, the character of Jay Gatsby ignores this fundamental rule of human existence, choosing to live in a world of the past, created by his own memories, and avoid the changes of the present even as they cause his own demise. ... When Gatsby is finally able to make his dream a reality, it falls short of his expectations and all of his planning and the fantasy of his relationship begins to decay, "...and the incarnation was complete" as Nick again comments. ... The interwoven themes of Gatsby's troubled character and the omnipresent influence of time on our lives leaves the ...

• Word Count: 1189
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate