The Problem with Jay Gatsby / Jim Halpert / The World

I recently watched Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby, a spectacular film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's book. However, what i wasn't prepared to was to feel a kinship with the title character.

Now I'm not a student of literature or film. But I do realize that any statement that is repeated in a work of fiction is meant to be a point remembered. And what was repeatedly mentioned about Jay Gatsby was his optimism and how unfortunately, he asks (or expects) too much of others. And this is why i can relate.

Jay's a giver. He gives and people take, every weekend, every day. His name penetrates the milieu of society's rich and yet, nobody really knows who he is. The only thing I notice that he takes back in exchange for his givings is his liberty. Its peculiar that the people who spend hours on end at his estate have yet to actually met the man. And all the riches he has gained, all that he has done was to achieve a simple goal, to return 'her' to his arms. The irony is that when he finally haves her, though limited it was, when he stops giving...when he chooses to take what he feels he deserves...he is rejected, abandoned, forgotten. Is that what happens when you choose to think for yourself rather than for others? And he was not rejected simply by the strangers but also his 'loved' ones.

This brings me to Jim Halpert from The Office. Everybody loves Jim....everybody.... from the first season as he gazed longingly at Pam from his desk, to the day he took a break from his 'dream job' to spend time with his 'dream wife' and family. If you're a fan of the office, you must have rejoiced when Jim and Pam first embraced each other in the office. Now, Jim's a giver. He supported Pam when she went to Art School. He bought the house they lived in. He cut off his tie at the wedding to cheer her up. But when he took up his dream job....

Dear world, treat your givers well. Because if they give up hope...