Monday 19 May 2014

Careless People

         I watched "The Great Gatsby" the weekend before last. Not the new version, but the old one with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford. I had seen it once before, when I was in my teens, and I remembered something of the story, but not much: that Gatsby was a rich man that threw extravagant parties, and that there was a car accident where the girl was driving. I had also read the book in my twenties, but didn't remember much from it either. (Apart of the quote at the beginning: "whenever you feel like criticising someone...")
        However, watching it now, with everything I know about Narcissism, was like looking at the story under an entirely new angle.  The whole story is about Narcissistic people who are so self-absorbed, they fail to see the reality about those around them. 
        The conversation between the owner of the petrol station and the neighbour who is "trying" to console him, is a classic dialogue of two people not "hearing" each other. There are many other examples throughout the film. 
        There seems to be a lot division of opinion over whether "The Great Gatsby" is a good book or not, and from what I read, (after I watched the film and deciding to do a bit of research,) a lot of people don't like the story because they don't like the characters. As I read their comments, I thought: "But that's the whole point: you're not meant to like them". This story, whether F. Scott Fitzgerald meant it as such or not, is a cautionary tale. It should come with the following warning on the front of the book (or the film, for that matter):

"This is a story about careless people who "smash up things and creatures and then retreat back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it is that keeps them together, and let other people clean up the mess they make.” You will encounter people like this too, so pay attention, and when you do encounter them, don't let them come into your life." 

12 comments:

  1. I never saw the film or read the book. It never appealed to me. Reading your review, I understand why. Real life isn't entertainment... oh, that explains why I don't care for reality TV. It's passed off as real life, and it so isn't.

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    1. Thanks Judy. I share your feelings about reality TV. I've never been able to bear watching it for the same reason.

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  2. Hi Kara,
    Great post! It is interesting to learn that the mixed reviews are about the characters as the characters are not likeable. It touches on the fact that there is no 'good' person and that is uneasy and uncomfortable for some. It is often difficult for some to like stories when one is not sure who to 'cheer' for. Like there needs to be a clear hero. And I love the warning, life includes people like this. Indeed, it does. xxTR

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    1. Thanks TR. " It is often difficult for some to like stories when one is not sure who to 'cheer' for." This is so true. When DH and I watched the 1st series of "Enlightened", DH kept asking: "who are we supposed to like here?" I replied: "That's up to you. The creators of the series are not making that decision for you. You have to decide for yourself." Though at times painful and uncomfortable, that's what I liked about the series: that you had to use your own brain instead of everything being nicely wrapped up for you. Just like in real life ;) xx

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    2. That is interesting, I think I remember a discussion of the show, I think it was at TNW. I want to check that show out. Funnily, DH and I finished watching Scandal, TV series, and there is not clear 'good' or 'bad' characters. In fact, at some point I found myself liking someone than not and then back again. It was really weird for me. I think the show challenged some of my thoughts on how we perceive 'good' and 'bad' in this world and associating that with liking someone.

      How did you overall like the story? xxTR

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    3. I quite liked the overall story in Enlightened. If you have worked for a big company you can relate to it a lot. I've been trying to get hold of the DVD for the 2nd series -which CS said it was even better than the 1st- but it's not available in the UK atm.
      I hadn't heard of Scandal, I'll have to check out if it's available on our DVD rental company. We've been watching The Good Wife, and it's similar in this too, that the characters are not all black or white.
      Kara xx

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  3. I haven't read the book since high school. I'll have to check it out again.

    Sometimes I think people feel in order to like something (a movie, a book) it has to leave them feeling good (about life, people, themselves). Something that leaves them unsettled can't be "good". I have this discussion with DH a lot: there are lots of musicians that I personally don't care for, but I know they are good musicians.

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    1. I agree. Most people don't like to be left unsettled, they'd rather live in their world of "flowers and birds"...

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  4. I HATE this book, but taught it for years - and it IS a cautionary tale and I do think that high school students should read it so that when they encounter N's in the real world, they'll realize that they've "met" them before. I always worried, though, that students would think these characters weren't "real," that people like this only populate books...

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    1. Hi Pearl,
      Yes, it's such a depressing story, and yes, I'm afraid that most people think that characters in books aren't "real", mainly because most teachers only teach from the point of view of literary value, not how the book is useful to us.

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  5. ""This is a story about careless people who "smash up things and creatures and then retreat back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it is that keeps them together, and let other people clean up the mess they make.” You will encounter people like this too, so pay attention, and when you do encounter them, don't let them come into your life.""

    Kara! Did you know my X's famous statement that was posted and re-posted on N-forums? As he was walking out of the house to visit his girlfriend, he said, "I may have MADE this mess CZ, but I DO NOT have to LIVE IN IT!"

    I think that fits perfectly with your quote!

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    1. Hi CZ, Yes! I remember that quote. He does fit perfectly with the quote. A real life example of exactly what I meant ;) xx

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