Chapter: 88
The Great Gatsby was one of the great classics referred to as the Great American Novel, alongside Moby-Dick and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Simply put, it’s an American novel that embodies the spirit of Americans.
In Korea, it was more famous for a scene in the movie than for the actual novel (you know, the one where DiCaprio raises his glass as Gatsby—I still can’t figure out why that’s so famous).
Personally, it’s one of my favorites among novels that symbolize the American Dream. That contrast between the flashy dream and the grim reality has a way of heating up your heart, doesn’t it?
– “I hear a lot of people say you have a bad personality, right?”
– “Well, I’ve been hearing that from you a lot lately, so… yeah, I guess.”
– “Hehe, that’s true. Anyway, Gatsby isn’t really living such a ‘shitty’ reality, is he? He’s basically the symbol of the American Dream, after all. It feels romantic to think someone could give up everything for love.”
– “But failing an affair and getting shot due to misunderstandings doesn’t exactly scream romance….”
– “Come on, that’s a tradition dating back to Goethe’s times.”
– “That’s… somewhat different, don’t you think?”
– “What’s wrong with that? Romantic is romantic.”
– “Japanese literature? I just can’t wrap my head around its feelings….”
– “Ah, senior, that’s discrimination against Japanese literature!”
Anyway.
The Great Gatsby was the very essence of the American dream. The most American dream, and the most American downfall all wrapped up in one.
In this world, America doesn’t exist, but—
Accepting the American spirit shouldn’t be too hard. I didn’t just plagiarize Gatsby; there’s plenty of American literature I’ve drawn from.
Making the incomprehensible understandable—that’s the power of literature.
.
.
.
The Great Gatsby.
The existence of a new novel that Homerus had prepared as a “Christmas gift” became known to the world through those who attended the dinner party.
Naturally, the reaction was pretty dramatic.
“Is it true that Homeros has a new book that only a few people have…?”
“Ugh! Why wasn’t I invited to the dinner?! I deserve to read ‘The Great Gatsby’ too!”
It was set to officially release in a month—
But after hearing about its existence, waiting a month felt like torture.
As a result, the responses from Homer’s followers were all over the place.
“Have you heard the story? The subject of this new novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ is apparently…”
“Ah! Don’t spoil it! I refuse to hear anything until I read it myself!”
Some folks actually covered their eyes and ears, isolating themselves to avoid spoilers.
“Princess Isolette, could I possibly read… ‘that’ novel that’s been circulating?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I really want to show you, but… it wouldn’t be respectful to Mr. Homer to show something I received as a gift before it’s published.”
“Ah, right. I guess I was asking too much. Instead… could you at least tell me what kind of novel it is?”
“Of course.”
Sometimes people at the dinner would ask their pals to show them the novel.
If that didn’t work, they might propose some sort of “deal.”
“Hmmm, Count Plummer.”
“What a surprise to have the Commissioner of Fairness personally visiting me.”
“Well, I’ve heard the recent resolution from the Conservative Party is stuck due to the Progressive Party’s objections… Is there something I can do to help?”
“Hmm?”
“Well, in return for that, I’d like a copy of the new book written by Mr. Homerus… He….”
“Ahhh….”
“Hmph.”
Because of this, people in the Empire began to consider reading The Great Gatsby as a power play of sorts.
Of course, there were those trying to illegally replicate the unpublished version of The Great Gatsby they managed to snag from a dinner attendee—
“Huh! Are there still idiots like this around? An unpublished version of Homeros’ book? Talk about a gutsy move.”
“I’m sorry! I deeply regret everything!”
“Setting up a printing press… planning to sell it to drug dealers lurking beyond the yellow wall? You must have some serious confidence… You’ve got some high-ranking buddy watching your back, eh?”
“Backer? What do you mean, backer? Nah, this was all MY idea—.”
“Yeah right! Just wait until we investigate this more closely. Bring in the purple mage.”
“Yessir!”
They all got nabbed in front of the Empire’s public authority.
Thanks to the Homerus Foundation taking on some of the administrative duties of city policing, there was more manpower available for capturing criminals.
As these incidents grew, so did people’s obsessions with The Great Gatsby.
It was as if reading The Great Gatsby could solve every single problem in the world. Sure, it was a ridiculous fantasy, but—
As a result.
“What’s the deal with humans in our Sioux school?”
“Uh, I heard you can read ‘The Great Gatsby’ here… Haha…”
“Hmmm?”
“Hik?! That, that can’t be—?”
“I wouldn’t be stingy with a guest visiting for a school tour. Follow me.”
“Hahaha…”
A lot of problems and conflicts got resolved.
Disabled writers from “Beyond the Yellow Wall,” priests and daycare teachers running nursery schools, Gray and others…
Not as closed off as mages in their towers, not as obsessively devoted to Homer as academy students, and not as high on the power ladder as nobility or the royal family.
They were people who were close but never bothered.
More and more people started seeking out others just to be able to read The Great Gatsby, even once.
“The Sioux… aren’t they kinder than I expected?”
“Right? Their fangs are scary, and they get all hyped at the sight of blood… but other than that, they seem pretty nice, huh?”
“Fur… nice… I wanna pet it….”
“What.”
Especially the image of “Suin” changed a lot.
This was largely because Gray had placed The Great Gatsby at the center of a school within the Sioux community. This school wasn’t just for kids like human schools; it was more like a lifelong education center.
Most of the Sioux at the school were of the educated sort. Naturally, humans who encountered them were bound to have a dramatically different view of the Sioux.
And so.
With a range of changes.
“The Great Gatsby… I’m finally reading this novel!”
The most “American” tale spread across the Empire.
.
.
.
“You’ve read The Great Gatsby?!”
“Yeah! I was lucky to get the chance! So, the plot is—”
The Great Gatsby is set during the “Prohibition Era” in the United States.
To give you a simplified version of the story, it’s about a downward spiral caused by a young man’s obsession with a married woman.
“─And that’s how it goes!”
“Wait, what’s that even about? So what makes Gatsby special? Isn’t he just some idiot criminal who fell in love and made dumb choices?”
“No, that’s not it—you’ll understand when you read it! It’s really great!”
From a traditional standpoint, Gatsby wasn’t that impressive: a fortunate commoner who scammed his way up and earned his cash through shady means (to be fair, he’s not exactly a model citizen in modern terms either).
Yet, The Great Gatsby is still a masterpiece.
Gatsby was a significant figure.
You can’t grasp The Great Gatsby just by skimming the surface. Reading only the plot won’t help you understand Gatsby or his significance.
“Can you picture someone sincere yet overly ambitious, blinded by love and spiraling into ruin?”
“Well, so I have to wait until it’s officially published?”
As always, to borrow a sentiment from The Little Prince… what truly matters can only be seen with the heart.
The Great Gatsby lays bare the contradictions of human emotions.
It goes beyond the simple “swings” of emotions, creating stark contrasts throughout the entire novel.
Gatsby is the upfront fraud, the hedonist who sees currency and power merely as pathways to love, and the most oppressive romantic of all.
Fitzgerald viewed “great intellect” as a contradiction in words.
He believed that an intellectual is someone capable of holding two opposing views simultaneously while drawing up a detailed strategy to realize an impossible dream.
The Great Gatsby was the pinnacle of Fitzgerald’s thoughts.
This can be tough to articulate in plain words, so in the end, those who’ve read the book can say only one thing.
“You have to read it! It’s honestly amazing!”
“Okay, okay.”
And so, the fantasy around The Great Gatsby kept growing.
Finally, on the first day of its official publication in the Empire.
“Me! I’m going to read The Great Gatsby!”
The Great Gatsby shattered *Homerus’* record for first-day sales.
A record bound to stand the test of time.
.
.
.
“…surpassed the initial sales of Don Quixote Part II? Is that… for real?”
“Yes, sir. Indeed.”
“Huh….”
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