"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 – tomorrow 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." (p. 144)
Interpretation: Theme
One can speculate, that the human race (if not specifically Americans) is constantly striving to distance itself from its past. More specifically the line, "tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out arms out father", can be seen as living for a dream, seeking a future that only exists in our mind. In this manner, Gatsby is can be considered the manifestation of this desire. By pursuing Daisy, he seeks to posses a shapeless and unattainable future; it reflects our futile dreams. And in that final closing sentence, Fitzgerald says as much. We continuously row our metaphorical boats towards the future, only to never reach because out the currents that push us back into the past. However, Fitzgerald is not condemning this vain pursuit. Rather, he accepts that this is a part of human nature, hence the words, "So we beat on..."; it insinuates that we will row our boats, regardless of the opposing tide.
One can speculate, that the human race (if not specifically Americans) is constantly striving to distance itself from its past. More specifically the line, "tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out arms out father", can be seen as living for a dream, seeking a future that only exists in our mind. In this manner, Gatsby is can be considered the manifestation of this desire. By pursuing Daisy, he seeks to posses a shapeless and unattainable future; it reflects our futile dreams. And in that final closing sentence, Fitzgerald says as much. We continuously row our metaphorical boats towards the future, only to never reach because out the currents that push us back into the past. However, Fitzgerald is not condemning this vain pursuit. Rather, he accepts that this is a part of human nature, hence the words, "So we beat on..."; it insinuates that we will row our boats, regardless of the opposing tide.