Poor Boy meets Rich Girl, loses Rich Girl to Rich Guy, Poor Boy decides to win Rich Girl away from Rich Guy by being even richer (and more tasteless) than Rich Guy. Which in a high school reunion fantasy goes something like this: Nerd meets Cheerleader, Cheerleader falls for Football Captain, Nerd decides to win Cheerleader by becoming richer than Gatsby. Comes the much anticipated high school reunion. What happens on the big night? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Cheerleader is (still) vapid, Football Captain is (still) a blowhard, Nerd is (still) a social wallflower (in a pink suit). It's deja vu all over again. The fantasy fizzles to ash.
Nick Carraway was on the mark when he told Gatsby: "You can't repeat the past." Gatsby's mistake was thinking he could.
Why would anyone want to repeat the past? Repetition doesn't guarantee a better ending.
Why would anyone want to repeat the past? Repetition doesn't guarantee a better ending.
Penny Pincher
