When The Great Gatsby Died

Who will cry when I die?

I ask myself that question because I just finished reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, one that been dubbed as Great American Novel.

Through the eyes of Nick, Fitzgerald shows us what kind of person Gatsby was – celebrity might be the modern term that can describe Gatsby. He was a party thrower in his awesome castle, yet no one knew (except Nick later on) where he and his money came from. Rumor had it that he graduated from Oxford, was a war’s hero, and once killed a person.

At first, we might think that Gatsby invited Nick to one of his parties because Nick was his neighbor. Later on, as Gatsby’s history was peeled layer by layer, Fitzgerald awed us after the real reason opened before our eyes. (I am trying not to give any spoiler here.)

But, being a celebrity, a party thrower didn’t make a lot of people come to his funeral (yes, he was dead, and no, I don’t think this is a spoiler, because the greatness of the book is in Fitzgerald’s storytelling and the thing between Gatsby – Nick – Daisy – Tom). Even Daisy didn’t come either.

Even if I try, I can’t blame Gatsby, saying that it came from his bad deeds or accusing him as a bad person, because he wasn’t, at least in my eyes.

But he had Nick there.

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I want to have a “Nick” in my funeral service, because I am sure I’ll die someday. A “Nick” that who is not a family member. Because I am still alive right now, the book makes me asking the question above. “Who will cry when I die?” Even though death might be happiness because as a Christian, I believe death will bring me to eternal live, I am still hoping selfishly that someone will cry for me when I die someday.