Final Paragraph Close Reading

When our English teacher that we were supposed to make a close reading on one paragraph of the Great Gatsby, I though that it would be a piece of cake. I WAS WRONG!!! The paragraph was so deep and at the same time, simple, that was stunted by the complexity of my task.

The paragraph I decided to analyse was the final paragraph of the novel. During Gatsby's funeral when Nick's final thoughts are printed into paper, ending the story with a powerful message (note, the guy smiling is Tom in disguise). The quote goes as following:

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Analysis:

This extract says more than it seems to, believe me I tried to simplify, but it is rich in imagery and symbolism. It basically says the following, it says that no matter how much we fight against the current (in this context could be either death or society) we will always get to our ends which will be to be forgotten on lost in history ("the past"). This line also a valuable resource in order to convey a strong message in the end of the novel; we will not live forever, so we must enjoy life while we can, while taking care of our spiritual life and moral values in order to die being remembered as good men and in that way last throughout history. NOT REACHING AND END, BUT AN EVERLASTING MEMORY.

Kind of depressing huh? Anyway, that's my analysis.

* In order to get out from the depression I've induced you watch the following vid...

 Bye. XD