Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath
In the novels 'The Great Gatsby' by Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck, the authors present similar ideas, but use different methods to portray them. Similarities in themes can be made between the two texts; these include the pursuit of the American Dream and the use and misuse of wealth. Other themes are also central to each novel, the strength in unity and the influence of female characters. The presentation of these similar themes is different, by the use of characters, setting, society, plot, and style and techniques employed by the author. The pairing of these two texts gave me a clear
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The different interpretations of the American dream allowed me to achieve an understanding of how Fitzgerald and Steinbeck use different methods to present the same theme. Tom and Daisy's interpretation of the American Dream is shown by Fitzgerald in Nick's evaluation of Tom's house. He describes the house as being
'even more elaborate than [he] expected… the lawn ran for a quarter of a mile… the front reflected with gold' (pg 12-13)
this emphasises their focus on materialistic worth and possessions. Steinbeck describes the simplicity of the dreams of the Joad's in Ma's description of the boxcar.
'It's nice,' she said. It's almost nicer than anything we had' (pg 182).
The setting of each novel also conveys the theme of the American Dream. The authors convey the same theme using different surroundings, but with similar meanings, reinforcing my understanding of how authors present similar ideas in different ways.
'The Great Gatsby' is set in the Jazz Age of the 1920's in New York, however 'The Grapes of Wrath' is set a decade later during the depression of the 1930's. Each author emphasises the importance of the setting in relation to the American Dream, rather symbolically. In 'The Great Gatsby' there are references made by Fitzgerald to the East and West Eggs and the Valley of Ashes. In the East Egg the American Dream has been
‘The Great Gatsby’ was written in the early 20th Century during the period known as the ‘Roaring Twenties’ or ‘the Jazz age’. It was a time where money was
In the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses social commentary to show what the people of the time period were like. It is set in an upper class area of old and newly made wealthy people. Although the book was set during the Jazz Age of the 1920s, it parallels the people of the 21st century and shows the peoples low morals, their individual pursuit of the American dream, and how they embrace noblesse oblige.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was written in the 1920s during the Prohibition era. The Great Gatsby takes place in the 1920s in New York. The book is narrated by Nick Carraway, who is also a protagonist in the book. Much of the book revolves around affection and scandals. In addition to the scandals, Fitzgerald has different portrayals of women.
If you're looking at that list and thinking, Sweet!, you're in luck. Published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is set in New York City and Long Island during the Prohibition era (remember, the Prohibition era was a time in which alcohol was illegal, no matter how old you were – yowsa). Flappers? It's got them. Parties? You bet? Cool cars? Absolutely—but more on that in a minute.
“You cannot open a book without learning something” (Confucius). Through numerous years of reading and comprehending texts, it’s needless to say that through each text, I overcame another road block. I have learnt to spell simple words, find morals in stories and understanding how important the Australian identity is to its country. Through my experiences of different text types, it has further shaped and moulded my personal attitudes, values and beliefs when a hurdle in my life was encountered, which is inevitable. The opportunities and experiences that I have studied has prepared me for the next stages of my journey. Each challenge and tribulation provides a fundamental foundation for the texts that we enjoy, immerse ourselves in and have further influenced all of us. In particular it has influenced my understanding of my past, present and most importantly my future.
Most define the American Dream as an equal opportunity for all to achieve success through handwork and determination. Many define success as having or gaining wealth and power. This isn 't true for the novel The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. Instead Fitzgerald represents the withering of the American Dream, in the novel the American Dream is presented more as a overpowering idea of aspirations far from reach, making it less of a dream and more of a distant thought. Throughout the novel Fitzgerald slowly deconstructs the image of the American Dream and builds upon the corrupting nature of wealth. Due to the corrupting nature of wealth we are able to identify the theme of the withering American Dream, which is being represented through
The Great Gatsby takes place in New York during the 1920’s; an era of endless parties, social standards, and individuals searching for their goals in life. The theme of, the future one sets for oneself can change drastically by making one decision, is displayed throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and shown through the characters of Gatsby and Daisy as well as through the symbol of the green light.
Killing people is morally wrong and injustice, but what if the killer believed that he was killing for a good purpose. That person would be considered a destructive angel, which is a type of archetype created by Carl Jung. In the great Gatsby different types of archetypes allow readers to see and understand the negative side of characters. Gatsby throughout the novel shows his archetypal lover role.Tom shows how he is the oppressor Daisy throughout the novel shows how she is the sexual temptress.
Life is not always what it seems, but is constantly fooled by metaphorical masks people wear. The appearance of many of the characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby differs greatly from their actual selves. The use of illusion in the novel is used effectively to portray the nature of people in the 1920 's, and the “artificial” life that is lived in this modern age. There are many incidences in which the appearance of characters is far different than what lurks inside them. Several of these incidences are shown in the appearances of Gatsby himself, Daisy Buchanan, and Gatsby’s true love for Daisy. Gatsby goes through a dramatic transformation from his old self to his new self, even changing his name and buying a faux mansion in
People can be oblivious, lacking a general concern for what occurs, creating an unknowingly selfish image for oneself building uneasiness in the development of life. F. Scott Fitzgerald shows this impact with a selfish and inattentive character, Jay Gatsby, in the novel, The Great Gatsby. Gatsby attempts to revitalize his past with Daisy yet fails as a result of his self-centered attitude. Fitzgerald depicts this through his egotistical values when he does not consider how his decisions impact the people 's lives around him, especially Daisy; consequently he falls oblivious to other 's realities intervening with his dreams, fabricating an insensitive character. Gatsby acts egotistical due to his relentless pursual of recreating the past while remaining blind to her desires in his desire to pursue her, representing his obsessive values to his prize, Daisy.
Humans are malicious and furtive creatures. They conform to their surrounding environments and surrender to the pressures of their social class and peers. Therefore, people dissemble their true feelings, and present a false identity of themselves to the world. Humanity also struggles with the acceptance and realization of reality, for people consume themselves with their own mental fantasies. In the novels, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the events the characters face during the roaring ‘20s and World War II illustrate how vastly different plot can share similar themes of humanity. The duality of humanity consists of people, who conceal their true identities and emotions beneath a facade, and their willingness to reveal the truth decreases due to their social circumstances; while other times, the refusal to accept reality can cause humanity to imagine elaborate fantasies that they strive to achieve.
The novel The Great Gatsby is a story that takes place in the 1920’s. The story
There are no two people exactly alike in the world. Identical twins, the only people in the world who share the same fingerprints and genetic information, have different personalities, distinct strengths and diverse shortcomings. When comparing two people, parallels can be drawn between them, but crucial dissimilarities will be highlighted as well during the process. Such is the case when it comes to analyzing the protagonists of The Natural by Bernard Malamud and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Both Roy Hobbs and Jay Gatsby, the main characters of the two books respectively, are driven by money and their lust for women, and these factors lead to their eventual downfall; however, their character development is different in that Hobbs undergoes a change of heart and Gatsby suffers from a lack thereof. Although both books share many parallels such as problematic relationships, a key distinction of the two men is their ability to garner sympathy from the readers.
In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, colors are one of the most important details in the book. Throughout the story Fitzgerald cleverly uses colors in order to focus on specific themes and characters. He wrote this book in a way where one can read it for pleasure, and where one could analyze it and truly appreciate the work that he has put into this book. Every color has a specific meaning which correlates with each of the characters. Specifically, gold represents wealth, high class, selfishness, and relationships; while white represents honesty, purity, innocence, and a symbol for surrendering.
The thriving rich life in the 1920’s consisted of flashy cars, drinking, and partying. The 1920’s continues to be one of the most extravagant time eras known to man. Many were seeking the fortune brought upon by down unders and the ban on alcohol. F. Scott Fitzgerald strongly depicts how life was for the wealthy of New York. The Great Gatsby is set in New York, the setting plays a key part in action that’s portrayed throughout the movie and the music being transposed throughout gives it a modern, yet ancient feel, which is appealing to all age groups.