The Great Gatsby, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, novel, american society, social success, human relations, human relationships, work, employment, romanticism
In this excerpt from Francis Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick Carraway, offers a reflective account of his life as a young bond salesman during a summer in New York. After having described the dazzling and opulent parties held at Jay Gatsby's mansion, Nick now focuses on his 'personal affairs' in the city and his intricate relationship with Jordan Baker. Through Nick's perspective, the narrative provides a multifaceted and nuanced portrayal of New York during this era, marked by some ambivalence between feelings of loneliness and excitement, attraction and deceit.
[...] This ambivalence is also reflected in the contrast between the crowded nature of the city, with its 'constant flicker of men and women and machines' (l.16) and streets 'five deep with throbbing taxi cabs' (l.24), and the narrator's deep sense of loneliness, vividly depicted by 'At the enchanted metropolitan twilight I felt a haunting loneliness' (l.20). This contrast between 'enchanted' and 'haunting loneliness' demonstrates how individuals feel very lonely in the midst of the city's vibrant life. New York is portrayed as a world of longing, hope and illusion, coexisting with loneliness and deception. Therefore, the description of the city and Nick's fascination with its nightlife emphasize the theme of longing for something unattainable. [...]
[...] The only character who is named in this text is Jordan Baker, a woman who holds a special place in Nick's life. However, even this connection seems uncertain, rendering love affairs superficial: was not actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity' (l.31). Moreover, the introduction of Jordan Baker in this excerpt unveils the recurring theme of dishonesty and deception, as evidenced by the lexical field used in this part of the text: 'concealed' (l.32), 'conceal' (l.32), 'lied' (l.34), bad lie' (l.37), 'incurably dishonest' (l.41), 'subterfuges' (l.43). [...]
[...] Yet, the text is permeated by anonymity and fleeting relationships. For instance, when Nick describes a romantic involvement with a woman, he evokes short affair with a girl who lived in Jersey City' (l.8). She is never named, and only described by the fact that she 'worked in the accounting department' (l.8). In this excerpt, almost everyone is anonymous, conveying the sense of loneliness that was previously discussed in the context of New York's bustling environment. Phrases such as 'poor young clerks' (l.21) and 'men and women' (l.16) serve as reminders of this anonymity. [...]
[...] Conclusion To conclude, this excerpt from The Great Gatsby highlights the narrator's pursuit of success, through his career but also through personal relationships. Here, the rich and ambivalent portrayal of New York serves as a backdrop for Nick's experiences, becoming a symbol of both promise and illusion, evoking the idea of longing for something unattainable. The theme of illusion and deception, highlighted by the fleeting and anonymous relationships described in this excerpt, is interwoven with the novel's exploration of honesty and integrity. [...]
[...] Ultimately, the narrator's subjectivity and personal judgment colour the narrative, highlighting the importance of perspective and interpretation in understanding the complex world of The Great Gatsby. [...]
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