Irony of the Past

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.  It eluded us then, but that's no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther....And  one fine morning-----
So we beat on,  boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" (Fitzgerald 180).

I've come to realize after reading this book that it is basically all about Gatsby trying to re-create his memories.  Because of this obsession, he is essentially living in the past. Even in the very beginning of the book he is reaching out at the green light, which also represents his past.

One thing I have always wondered is why Gatsby allows all those rumors about him to keep going around. It would seem obvious that such rumors would ruin his reputation.  However, I believe he keeps these rumors to hide his purpose, to reunite with Daisy.  He literally has no use for his money.  He holds these extravagant and lavish parties attended by a hundred people, yet the only purpose for them is to attract Daisy.  In fact, the whole idea of Jay Gatsby is an illusion! We find out later in the book that his real name is James Gatz, along with the fact that he never actually went to Oxford University and a whole other bunch of misconceptions.  He is trying to get away from the "janitor's work with which he was to pay his way through college"(Fitzgerald 105) yet ironically enough he is trying to get back together with Daisy.  It's like he's trying to run away from his past yet chase after it.

I really like this ending to the book. The memorable quote characterizes the characters and people who chase after their past as boats against a current.  Unfortunately, these boats usually end up in tragedy.