“Here are more lines from The Great Gatsby. I liked to walk up Fifth Avenue and pick out romantic women from the crowd and imagine that in a few minutes I was going to enter into their lives, and no one would ever know or disapprove. I like to remember when I was one of them, or to pretend that I am one of them still, sensing that restless man at my back and half turning, no, turning all the way, open-armed, saying, Pick me, pick me.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Sigrid Nunez, there is a reflection on indulging in fantasies of entering the lives of romantic women on Fifth Avenue. The speaker expresses a desire to be chosen by someone, to be the object of desire. This passage captures a sense of longing, nostalgia, and the universal desire for connection and acceptance. The theme of yearning for something unattainable, paired with a sense of anonymity and secret desire, is prevalent in this quote.
Modern Relevance
In this passage, author Sigrid Nunez incorporates references from The Great Gatsby to evoke a sense of longing and desire for a different life. The idea of wanting to be someone else or to enter into the lives of others is a common theme in today's society as people often seek escape or fulfillment through imagination or online personas. The yearning for a sense of connection and acceptance is timeless and resonates with readers today, reminding us of the power of fiction to capture the complexities of human emotion and desire.
Example of Usage
In this quote from Sigrid Nunez's work, the narrator expresses a desire to be a part of the glamorous and mysterious world of Fifth Avenue, where they can imagine themselves as one of the romantic women they see in the crowd. This passage captures the sense of longing and fantasy that permeates "The Great Gatsby."
Reflection Questions:
As you reflect on this passage from The Great Gatsby by Sigrid Nunez, consider the following questions:
- What does the narrator's desire to "pick out romantic women from the crowd" say about their character and motivations?
- How does the narrator's fantasy of entering into the lives of these women without anyone knowing or disapproving reflect a deeper longing or dissatisfaction in their own life?
- In what ways does the narrator's yearning to be chosen or picked by someone else resonate with universal themes of desire, connection, and vulnerability?
- How does the idea of pretending to be one of the "romantic women" or feeling the presence of a "restless man at [their] back" add layers of complexity to the narrator's inner thoughts and emotions?
- What deeper insights into human nature, relationships, or personal identity might this passage evoke for you as a reader?
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“I began to like New York, the racy, adventurous feel of it at night and the satisfaction that the constant flicker of men and women and machines gives to the restless eye. I like to walk up Fifth Avenue and pick out romantic women from the crowd and imagine that in a few minutes I was going to enter their lives, and no one would ever know or disapprove. Sometimes, in my mind, I followed them to their apartments on the corners of hidden streets, and they turned and smiled back at me before they faded through a door into warm darkness. At the enchanted metropolitan twilight I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others—poor young clerks who loitered in front of windows waiting until it was time for a solitary restaurant dinner—young clerks in the dusk, wasting the most poignant moments of night and life.”
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