Former Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, once said, "People think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover-up and decoration. But as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away." Haniyeh's quote encompasses the idea that time stops for no one, and as time progresses the truth will be revealed because nothing remains hidden for too long. The wealthy, beautiful, and renowned are not exempt from the problems that arise from the never-stopping continuation of time. In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the quest of Jay Gatsby, who attempts to find his "holy grail" in the form of a restoration of his past. Like The Holy Grail, Gatsby gives his entire existence to achieve his goal, but …show more content…
As a result of Gatsby's exhausting attempts to reach the grail Nick can tell that Gatsby is being worn down. Nick comments on how Gatsby is "running down like an overwound clock" when he comes in contact with Daisy (99). The effects of being near Daisy take a negative toll on Gatsby. Though he should be happy to be reunited with his long lost love, he is running down like a clock because time stops for no one, not even these two lovers. This continuation of time is demonstrated in the way Nick describes Gatsby. In addition to looking run down physically, the effects of the grail search also harm Gatsby mentally. Upon spending more time with Gatsby Nick observes "[Gatsby] talked a lot about the past...he wanted to recover something...that had gone into loving Daisy. His life had been confused and disordered since then, but if he could once return to a certain starting place and go over it all slowly, he could find out what that thing was"(118). The quest for the grail has a mental effect on Gatsby, making his goal of recreating the past unachievable. Nick realizes what the problem is but Gatsby is unaware and Nick comments on how if only Gatsby would go over everything slowly he could find out what is tormenting him. Like Galahad in the legend of the Holy Grail the trials of the grail prove to be too much for Gatsby and lead to his demise. After Gatsby's death Nick comes to the conclusion that humanity "beat(s) on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past"(193) Nick explains that Gatsby's quest was futile, for life continues on and it is impossible to relive the past. Attempting to reach the past would be going against the current which proves to be an unachievable feat for Gatsby. Attempting to go back into the past proved to be too much for Gatsby and afflicted him mentally, physically, and ultimately led to his