The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 893 Words

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby tells the story of a nouveau-riche man chasing his dream in the midst of the prohibition. The story is told from the perspective of the narrator, Nick Carraway. Nick recounts the summer he spent with Gatsby as Gatsby tries to attain the American Dream, which he has personified in his past love, Daisy Buchanan. Fitzgerald presents two contrasting responses to the American Dream through his characterization of Nick as cynical and Gatsby as hopeful. Nick’s cynical response to Gatsby’s meeting with Daisy shows Nick’s response to the American dream as a whole. Characterization is a way of defining characters personality through their thought, words, and actions. Gatsby reunites with Daisy when she comes over for tea at Nick’s house. She and Gatsby spend the afternoon together, observed by Nick. Nick thinks, â€Å"There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through any fault of her own, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything† (Fitzgerald 95). Nick’s perspective that Daisy must have â€Å"tumbled short† of Gatsby’s dreams devalues the level of Gatsby’s love for her, yet, Gatsby never verbalizes or indicates that Daisy has fallen short of his dreams. Here, Nick is expressing his cynicism towards the American Dream by critiquing Gatsby’s American Dream. Nickâ⠂¬â„¢s cynicism is further revealed in the way he speaks about the green light on Daisy’sShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. This author helped to launch the theme that is so prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. ScottRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1166 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Haze F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in a time that was characterized by an unbelievable lack of substance. After the tragedy and horrors of WWI, people were focused on anything that they could that would distract from the emptiness that had swallowed them. Tangible greed tied with extreme materialism left many, by the end of this time period, disenchanted. The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that

The Theory Of Social Life - 1581 Words

In order to interpret social life we have utilized three primary theoretical perspectives. In this paper I will summarize all three primary perspectives by identifying the role, figures and key concepts related to each of these three theories. I will then identify which of these three theories I find most useful in studying sociology today and then I will explain the rationale behind my selection. Finally, I will provide my own argument to the debate as whether the purpose of social research should be only to advance the understanding of human behavior or to investigate/reform harmful social arrangements. The first theory I will cover is symbolic interactionism. The symbolic interaction perspective, also called symbolic interactionism,†¦show more content†¦Interactionist seem to focus on the subject aspects of social life. People interpret one another’s behavior and it is these interpretations that form the social bond. These interpretations are called the â€Å"defi nition of the situation† (Crossman). For example, why would young people smoke cigarettes even when medical evidence points to the dangers of doing so? Studies find that teenagers are well informed about the risks of tobacco, but they also think that smoking is cool, that they themselves will be safe from harm, and that smoking projects a positive image to their peers (Crossman). The symbolic meaning of smoking overrides the actual facts regarding smoking and risk. â€Å"Some fundamental aspects of our social experience and identities, like race and gender, can be understood through the symbolic interactionist lens† (Crossman). Having no biological bases at all, both race and gender are social constructs that function based on what we believe to be true about people, given what they look like. We tend to use socially constructed meanings of race and gender to help us decide who we interact with, how to do so, and to help us determine, sometimes inaccurately, the meaning of a person s words or actions (Crossman). â€Å"In the cases of race and gender, this perspective would not account for social forces like systemic racism or gender discrimination, which strongly influence what we believe race and gender mean† (Crossman). â€Å"One reason for this focus

The Tragedy of the American Military free essay sample

The Civil War, which divided the Northern and Southern states in the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history, raged on when Abraham Lincoln was re-elected as President. Lincoln Knew that all the tragedy and casualties had to come to an end. When delivering his Second Inaugural Address, he chose to send a message of reconciliation and healing to both sides instead of focusing on politics, slavery, and state’s rights. Through the use of allusion, diction, and syntax Lincoln creates a common ground to unify the North and South.Lincoln uses allusion to justify the war and its purpose, which was to end slavery. In his speech, he alludes to the Bible, quoting, â€Å"Woe unto the world because of offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh,† to show that the war was caused by God’s wish and was inevitable. America as a whole had committed theâ€Å"offense† of slavery, not just the South but the North as well because they were involved at the beginning of the slave trade and did nothing to end it. We will write a custom essay sample on The Tragedy of the American Military or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lincoln suggests that the tragedy and destruction wrought by the war was a divine punishment to America for possessing slaves to fulfill their greedy desires, saying that God may will that the war continue until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, and that the war was the countrys woe due, so both sides were to be blamed for their actions. He again alludes to the Bible, and says, â€Å"the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether† demonstrating that the meaning of the war was for the North and South to see the consequences of their failings, and to learn to become better people, and through that a better nation, calling for all Americans to â€Å"strive on to finish the work we are in, and to bind the nation’s wounds† alluding to a passage of the Book of Psalms, which states that God heals the broken hearted and wounded.Lincoln uses diction to create different tones in different parts of the speec h. In the speech, he describes the atmosphere of the nation before the Civil War. He remembers how â€Å"all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending war† and how â€Å"[all] dreaded it,† illustrating an ambiance of stress and uncertainty in the nation like a heavy weight was on everyone’s shoulders.