American Garden Themes

A desire of human existence is finding the way back to the Garden. Humans all seek the ultimate serenity that thrives in the Garden. Serenity is exhibited through a state of mind, so arguably, the Garden is a concept. As a result, of the conceptualized Garden, humans are incapable of physically find their way back to the Garden. Therefore, to encounter a true sense of tranquility, humans must become independent from their physical existence. As a result, of the desire to return to the Garden, in American Literature, a psychological conception of the American Garden emerges from various texts, such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, The House on

Throughout the story, Gatsby is seeking to rekindle his romance with Daisy, the woman who he is deeply in love with from his younger days. Gatsby and Daisy in the novel parted ways, due to his engagement in the army, and her insensible desire to find money not love. A series of events unfold, and Gatsby once again gets to see Daisy. There is a very intimate scene that follows the reunion, Gatsby and Daisy are dancing, meanwhile Nick Caraway, the narrator of the story, Daisy’s cousin, and Gatsby’s neighbor, is having an internal dialogue, he watches Gatsby and Daisy and says to himself, “No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart” (Fitzgerald 96). When Nick speaks of fire or freshness he is speaking of elements in the physical world. Nick is then arguably saying that the physicality of the earth, such as the “freshness” of air, or the flames of a “fire” cannot prevent man’s passions. That is if “no amount” can have an impact on a man’s heart. The “ghostly heart” Nick speaks of indicates a spiritual entity from the physical afflictions of life. Thus, readers see the psychological Garden that has fabricated within Gatsby’s mind. Gatsby has rejected the fact that many years have distorted his image love, and that he can’t recapture time, and in place of reality believe that his love is strong to overcome time

Janie, the protagonist of the novel, is recounting her life story to Pheoby, her friend who lives in Eatonville. Janie throughout the novel is on a quest to encounter transcendental enlightenment, and find her