The Great Disguise

I opened "The Great Gatsby" and flipped to page 39, the start of the third chapter. As I began reading, I got flooded with details describing an awfully rich man, Gatsby. From the crates of oranges and lemons all the way to salads of harlequin designs, you could tell how excessive these weekly parties were. The orchestra, the lights, and the cars arriving one after another. It painted a picture of endless luxury. As I read more, I noticed that all of this sparkle was more like a cover. Gatsby doesn't throw these huge parties because he loves champagne and dancing, but because he's chasing something else or maybe someone else. The sparkle is only on the surface, but underneath it's all an illusion that was built to hide the cracks no one can see.

This felt oddly familiar, like scrolling through Instagram or TikTok and only seeing the polished version of someone's life. The infinite reels about vacations and perfect outfits, but we don't see the daily struggles, arguments, or stress. Just like Gatsby's parties, the pictures and videos online are a distraction to real life. It's so easy to fall for it and start comparing your life with something that was never even real.

The truth is reality is much different. It's not always as dazzling as Gatsby's mansion, but it's much more valuable than the cover-up. Gatsby couldn't learn that, but we can. Let us value the truth of who we are instead of the mask we put up for everyone else.