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Influences for f scott fitzgeralds writing
F. scott fitzgerald's influences in life
Influences for f scott fitzgeralds writing
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In literature, authors use their life experiences and their culture in the development of their plots and the creation of their characters’ traits. The era and area where an author emerged are key to the development of these experiences and cultural elements that are created and established in their works. Due to the predominantly Christian culture in the early 1900s, authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, who were raised in that era, were brought up and schooled in reading and interpreting the Bible. The effect of this culture on Fitzgerald’s work is shown when he utilizes his prior knowledge of the Bible to reference it, just like many Authors before him incorporated their knowledge of myths and Shakespeare in their works. In The Great Gatsby, …show more content…
An example is when Daisy accidentally hit Myrtle with Gatsby’s car, “killed her instantly” and then proceeded to flee the scene of the crime (Fitzgerald 154). Upon the revelation that Daisy was the driver of Gatsby’s car and killed Myrtle, Gatsby admits that “of course I’ll say I was” driving (154). Fitzgerald uses the sequence from the novel about Daisy killing Myrtle and Gatsby taking the fall, to parallel the story of mankind sinning and then being redeemed by Christ. For instance, when Daisy accidentally kills Myrtle and then flees, she sins, just as Adam and Eve sinned by eating an apple from the tree of knowledge and then fleeing. As Gatsby decides to take the blame for Daisy’s hit and run, in order to redeem Daisy, it becomes clear that Fitzgerald paralleled Gatsby’s decision to that of Christ’s decision to sacrifice himself on the cross for mankind. In addition, Fitzgerald shows that Gatsby’s dedication to Daisy supersedes his other character traits and shows that Gatsby is passionate enough to lay down anything, including his life, in order to redeem and save Daisy (Dilworth 2). Here Fitzgerald draws parallels between Gatsby’s unwavering dedication and passion for Daisy, and Christ’s dedication and passion for mankind, as well as the selflessness that both Gatsby and Christ exude for the ones that they love. Thus, Fitzgerald’s clear parallels between Christ’s sacrifices …show more content…
As Gatsby’s body was discovered, Nick observed “a thin red circle in the water” in the pool (Fitzgerald 173). Fitzgerald emphasized Gatsby’s blood in the water, because it is a clear allusion to Christ as the “mixture of blood and water may evoke” a memory similar to “‘blood and water’ flowing from the side of Christ after he was pierced in the side by a spear” of a Roman soldier (Dilworth 1). Just as the Christ’s death was confirmed when blood and water flowed from a spear wound in his side, Fitzgerald parallels the conformation of Christ’s death by confirming Gatsby’s death with blood in the water of the pool, presumably from the gunshot that killed Gatsby. Fitzgerald uses this biblical allusion to show that in life, and even after death, Gatsby is a Christ-like
Throughout his life, F. Scott Fitzgerald, a prestigious writer of the Jazz age, experienced many battles during his unsatisfactory life. Many of his disturbed endeavors lead to his creation of many marvelous novels including his exquisite novel The Great Gatsby. From beginning to end, Fitzgerald’s notable use of paradox and metaphorical language creates phenomenal and modernistic symbols. Whether distinguishing relationships between characters and morality, Fitzgerald continuously uses symbols to express the adequate meaning of what is behind the true theme of The Great Gatsby-the power of hope cannot determine a dream.
Thomas C. Foster in his work How to Read Literature Like a Professor argues that even though characters may display evil characteristics, their religious values overpower and express “themselves in connection with the [character’s] role within society” (Foster 125). Literary characters may display some of the same characteristics as Christ while accomplishing actions with “redemption, hope, or miracle” (132). Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby symbolically resembles a Christ figure—sacrificing himself to save Daisy from the law, outstretching his arms towards hope, and coming to West Egg to retrieve Daisy’s unworthy world.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons. New York, 1925. Gindin, James. A. "Gods and Fathers in F. Scott Fitzgerald's Novels." Modern Critical Views: F. Scott Fitzgerald.
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby around the 1920s. During the time period of the 1920s, it was considered the “Jazz Age”. This time period dealt with the issue of prohibition, many people attended parties and clubs. Religion did not affect the 1920s social dance very much. During the 1920s people had a sense of freedom, and were not bound by what their religion guided. Many people like flappers went against the standard and did not listen or go by the rule. Written during the Jazz Age period, Fitzgerald wrote the novel The Great Gatsby, and ironically, it is one that explores the concept of an omnipresent God which readers can guess come from the author’s knowledge of catholicism and christianity.
Written during and regarding the 1920s, ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald is both a representation of this distinctive social and historical context, and a construction of the composer’s experience of this era. Beliefs and practises of the present also play a crucial role in shaping the text, in particular changing the way in which literary techniques are interpreted. The present-day responder is powerfully influenced by their personal experiences, some of which essentially strengthen Fitzgerald’s themes, while others compete, establishing contemporary interpretations of the novel.
The message of numerous literature novels are connected to the context of the time and can enlighten readers to understand the meaning. This is true of the novel, The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and first published in 1926. It highlights a materialistic and consumerist society where social and moral values were slowly decaying. Portrayed through the eyes of the narrator, Nick Carraway, itillustrated the world , the people surrounding him and their values; starting with Daisy and Tom Buchanan and the infamous Jay Gatsby, a man chasing after his first love.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is an absurd story, whether considered as romance, melodrama, or plain record of New York high life. The occasional insights into character stand out as very green oases on an arid desert of waste paper. Throughout the first half of the book the author shadows his leading character in mystery, but when in the latter part he unfolds his life story it is difficult to find the brains, the cleverness, and the glamour that one might expect of a main character.
Bruccoli, Matthew J. Preface. The Great Gatsby. By F. Scott Fitzgerald. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. vii-xvi.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the story of a world lost to superficiality and greed. Falsehood and deception are the currency which fuels the characters in the novel. Dwelling in this fallen world, Fitzgerald has placed a fallen god. Gatsby is bathed in descriptions that identify him as the Son of God. Fitzgerald makes a conscious effort to clothe this character with imagery and actions to make him the patron deity of this fallen world, but Gatsby is too much enveloped by his surroundings to save them and is consumed in the attempt. Despite the biblical allusions, strong images and explicit statements identifying Gatsby with Christ, the prevailing tone of the novel prevents him from being a Christ-figure.
Hooper, Osman C. "Fitzgerald's ‘The Great Gatsby'," The Critical Reputation of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Article A353. Ed. Jackson Bryer. Archon Books, Maryland: 1967.
Trilling, Lionel. "F. Scott Fitzgerald." Critical Essays on Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby." Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: Hall, 1984. 13-20.
Trilling, Lionel. "F. Scott Fitzgerald." Critical Essays on Scott Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby." Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: Hall, 1984. 13-20.
Sutton, Brian. "Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby." Explicator 59.1 (Fall 2000): 37-39. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Linda Pavlovski. Vol. 157. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 24 Feb. 2011.
The 1920’s were a time of social and technological change. After World War II, the Victorian values were disregarded, there was an increase in alcohol consumption, and the Modernist Era was brought about. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a perfect presentation of the decaying morals of the Roaring Twenties. Fitzgerald uses the characters in the novel--specifically the Buchanans, Jordan Baker, and Gatsby’s partygoers--to represent the theme of the moral decay of society.
Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004. Print. The.