Sunday, 25 February 2024
Existentialism
Friday, 23 February 2024
The Great Gatsby (ThAct)
Also Known As: | Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald |
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Born: | September 24, 1896 • Saint Paul • Minnesota |
Died: | December 21, 1940 (aged 44) • Los Angeles • California |
Notable Works: | “Tales of the Jazz Age” • “Tender Is the Night” • “The Beautiful and Damned” • “The Crack-Up” • “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” • “The Great Gatsby” • “The Last Tycoon” • “This Side of Paradise” |
Notable Family: Members | Spouse Zelda Fitzgerald |
For detail biographical reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald CLICK HERE or further more CLICK HERE
# F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Writing Style in The Great Gatsby:-
While Fitzgerald’s work is inspired by the writing styles of both Conrad and Keats, Fitzgerald is still a remarkable novelist in his own right. Fitzgerald uses vivid imagery and metaphors to provide a visual picture of his characters and settings and incorporate deeper meaning beyond just physical appearance. Additionally, his sentence structure mirrors the characters and settings by consisting primarily of compound-complex sentences. These sentences are mostly spoken through the narrator, Nick, as he attempts to make sense of the people and places around him.
# Figurative Language and Imagery:-
Fitzgerald reveals key details about his characters when he first describes the mansions that sit across the water from one another. Gatsby’s mansion is described as a “factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy,” which, at first glance, is simply a way for the reader to visualize his mansion by using a point of reference. However, as the reader learns more about Gatsby, the mansion becomes a mirror image of its resident: both are posers, copies, or fakes lacking personality or uniqueness.
On the other hand, the Buchanan mansion is metaphorically described as a fashionable white palace glittering along the water (Fitzgerald 5). The elaborate house was decked in French windows, a Georgian Colonial mansion, surrounded by overflowing gardens (Fitzgerald 6). These details imply that this house is not only incredibly expensive, but it has existed for many years and was likely passed down from wealthy relatives. These details further distinguish the Buchanan from Gatsby and amplify their “old money” status.
Fitzgerald also infuses emotional meaning into his descriptions of his characters: Tom Buchanan is described as having “two shining arrogant eyes” and his body “capable of enormous leverage–a cruel body” (Fitzgerald 7). The author doesn’t simply state, “Tom is arrogant and cruel”; rather, he incorporates these vices into the physical description of Tom’s outward appearance. By doing so, Fitzgerald encapsulates Tom’s presence in the novel to an extent where we can almost predict his words and actions. As readers, we can safely assume that Tom’s presence in a room feels threatening to at least one person, and we can also assume that he is judging everyone around him.
Conversely, his wife, Daisy Buchanan, is described as wearing a white dress that was “rippling and fluttering”, her laugh is both absurd and charming, and her face is simultaneously sad and lovely (Fitzgerald 9). These details reveal Daisy’s internal conflict with her life choices; part of Daisy wishes she had run away with a young soldier instead of marrying an abusive and unfaithful husband. However, the other part of her finds security and comfort in her marriage because of the money and status it provides. Additionally, her clothes are a reflection of her nature to float innocently through life, free of responsibility, whether it comes to raising her daughter or owning up to murdering Myrtle.
As the narrator, Nick Carraway speaks in a series of compound-complex sentences. These tumbling, nearly rambling sentences mirror the narrator’s unfruitful attempts to understand the motivations of the characters around him. One example is Nick’s first impression of the Buchanans when he enters their home. While attempting to make sense of the Buchanan’s move to East Egg, Nick explains that “this was a permanent move, said Daisy over the telephone, but I didn’t believe it — I had no sight into Daisy’s heart, but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrevocable football game” (Fitzgerald 6). Within this compound-complex sentence, Nick reveals his own distrust of the Buchanan, not able to discern whether their past decisions or current words contain the truth.
Feminist readings of "The Great Gatsby" scrutinize the portrayal of women, the power dynamics between genders, and the societal expectations placed upon them during the Jazz Age. One key aspect that feminists often analyze is the representation of female characters, particularly Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker.
From a feminist viewpoint, Daisy is often seen as a symbol of the limited agency and societal constraints imposed upon women. She is depicted as a shallow and passive character, whose life revolves around the pursuit of wealth and status, ultimately leading to her entrapment in a loveless marriage with Tom Buchanan. Her inability to assert her desires and make autonomous decisions reflects the patriarchal structures of the time, where women were expected to conform to the roles assigned to them by men.
Jordan Baker, on the other hand, embodies traits traditionally associated with masculinity: she is independent, assertive, and unapologetic about her ambitions. However, her character is still constrained by societal expectations, as evidenced by her adherence to the rules of high society and her eventual disillusionment with the superficiality of the world she inhabits.
By examining the experiences of these female characters, feminist readings shed light on the unequal power dynamics between men and women in the novel and in society at large. They highlight the ways in which women are marginalized and restricted by patriarchal norms, and how their identities are often defined by their relationships with men.
Furthermore, feminist perspectives challenge traditional readings of "The Great Gatsby" by foregrounding the experiences and voices of female characters, which are often marginalized or overlooked in mainstream interpretations. Instead of viewing Daisy as merely a symbol of unattainable beauty or a catalyst for Gatsby's downfall, feminist readings encourage a deeper exploration of her character and motivations, considering the societal pressures that shape her choices and actions.
However, it's important to acknowledge the limitations of the feminist perspective in understanding the novel. While it offers valuable insights into the gender dynamics at play, it may overlook other aspects of the text, such as its exploration of class, race, and the American Dream. Additionally, some critics argue that focusing solely on the female characters may oversimplify the complexities of Fitzgerald's portrayal of gender relations and overlook the agency and autonomy that women exercise within the constraints of their society.
In conclusion, the feminist perspective on "The Great Gatsby" provides a compelling framework for analyzing the gender dynamics and societal expectations depicted in the novel. By foregrounding the experiences of female characters, it offers unique insights into the text and challenges traditional readings that prioritize male experiences. However, like any critical perspective, it has its strengths and limitations and should be considered alongside other interpretive approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the novel.
Saturday, 17 February 2024
VITA & VIRGINIA Th(Act)·
Greetings!! Everyone this blog is a part of a thinking activity given by Vaidehi Hariyani Ma'am. For more information about this task CLICK HERE
The movie 'Vita & Virginia' shows the real-life love story between writers Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. It's like a love letter to love, telling us how love can be captivating, fulfilling, and heartbreaking. The film, directed by Chanya Button, focuses on a small part of the women's lives in the 1920s, particularly their time in London's artistic scene. It covers the period when Sackville-West and Woolf met, fell in love, and eventually ended their relationship.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
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