A thought of Nick’s that I found to be particularly insightful to Gatsby’s character was his realization that Gatsby had perhaps “over dreamed” the idea of Daisy to the point that she would inevitably let him down, “not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his allusion” (96, 95). Gatsby has a very specific vision for his life with Daisy, right down to how the grass on the lawn should look on the day they reunite. Gatsby has spent years constructing this vision with Daisy at its center piece, and when it all finally comes together, the girl from his past that he has kept perfectly preserved in his mind is now an evolved woman who has experienced things, love and marriage, without him. Dreams and aspirations are crucial to happiness of people. They provide hope and motivation. Fitzgerald portrays this in Gatsby’s character, a man who came from nothing and made something of himself because he had a goal, a dream. But, dreams can be harmful. Gatsby’s dream was of the past. It only limited his purpose on earth, and rooted him to a concept that could never be realized. Gatsby’s failure to realize the power of time and absence, and the rapidness at which people evolve and change is what eventually led to his demise.