The Great Gatsby (Pages 39-54)

The Great Gatsby

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

“He doesn’t want any trouble with anybody.”(Page 43) The characters of The Great Gatsby have complex relationships which, for most, lead to trouble. This trouble arises from the similarities and differences of the characters.

Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway serve as the novel’s main characters and in some ways, as doubles.  The two are similar in their idealistic pursuit of the American dream and value of morals as well as their literary role as protagonists. As much as they are similar though, the two are also different. While Gatsby comes from a poor family, Nick comes from a wealthy. While Gatsby lies constantly throughout the novel, Nick prides himself in his honesty and truthfulness. In addition to Gatsby and Nick, Myrtle Wilson and Daisy Buchanan also act as doubles as both are involved in affairs, unhappy with their present husbands, and obsessed with wealth.

 

The antagonists of the novel include the Buchanans. Tom keeps Gatsby from Daisy and Daisy does not fully return Gatsby’s love thus prohibiting Gatsby from achieving his dream. Additionally, other antagonists include those who use Gatsby only for his wealth and fortune thus blocking him from Daisy and happiness.

Foil characters within the novel include Tom Buchanan and George Wilson. Physically the two differ as Tom is strong and George is weak. There physical attributes also reflect their personalities as Tom is commanding and George is quieter and more submissive. Socially, Tom is a wealthy upper-class man while George is a laborer of the working middle class.   Other foil characters include Daisy and Jordan. While Jordan is happy and accepting of her present, Daisy is miserable. Jordan is strong in her beliefs and practices while Daisy is reliant and submissive to Tom. Thus, Jordan chooses her destiny while Daisy allows Tom to take advantage of her and control her relationships.

Each different in role and qualities, the characters of the novel each serve intricate parts in the story line. Without one character, the novel takes on completely new meaning. Similarly, “…if one brick was removed the whole library was liable to collapse (Fitzgerald, Page 46) .”

The House of Mirth- Book Two

Chapter Five

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

"People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime." This famous and popular quote is wisely portrayed by Wharton through her introduction of the Gomers to Lily's life. Yet, upon meeting the Gomers, one as a reader is instantly drawn to their similarity to the Trenors and Van Osburghs.

"The people about her were doing the same things as the Trenors, the Van Osburghs and the Dorsets: the difference lay in a hundred shades of aspect and manner, from the pattern of the man's waistcoats to the inflection of the women's voices (Wharton, Page 189)." As Wharton points out through this comparison, the Gomers appear as doubles to the Van Osburghs and Trenors. Despite their surface similarities though, Wharton continues to point out though that the Gomers are more accepting and less judgmental making them friendly protagonists rather than the antagonist Mrs. Dorset has bee throughout the novel. The introduction of these new and open characters comes conveniently in a time of need for Lily as they provide her friendship and shelter as Mrs. Dorset continues the destruction of Lily's social image. Such close similarity though, draws Lily back to desiring and working towards rebuilding her old life and friendships causing her, as Ms. Gerty Farish would point out, to close the door on any possibilities of escaping this lifestyle. While the Gomers appear as though they will do anything for Lily, due to their striking similarities in wealth, social status , and sudden proximity and friendliness with the Dorsets, the reader is forced to wonder what their future role will play in the story and if they too will turn to the spoils of wealth and temptations of acceptance.

Chapter Four

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Character is a quality that can not be manipulated or controlled, but in truth reflects the most inner qualities of a person and their values as an individual. Throughout the plot of The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton develops each character to reflect their morals and individuality. In Chapter Four, the reader, for the first time, is able to most fully see and sympathize with the main character, Lily Bart, in her time of weakness as her true character is fully revealed. 

As a result of being disinherited by her Aunt, Mrs. Peniston, in her will and last testement and in the seclusion  from her former friends and family who chose to believe the false story of Mrs. Dorset due to her riches rather than trusting in the character of Lily Bart, Lily, "For the first time in her life  finds herself utterly alone except for Gerty Farish (Wharton, Page 183)." Despite the disloyalty of her friends and harshness of her family, Lily resolves to do what is just and work to repay her debts and continue to protect the dignity of Mrs. Dorset. In seeing Lily through a new light, one in which she appears more humane with emotions of longing for friendship and acceptance, I sympathize with Lily and see her perhaps in the view of Gerty Farish, as  a person with greater qualities and a higher purpose in life. Like Gerty Farish, I begin to hope that Lily too will see this as she moves beyond the constant act of trying to fit in with this rich and unaccepting group. I can see now that Lily truly does not belong amongst them as she cares too much for the well-being others while those others care little about her. In Grace Stepney's blaming of Mrs. Peniston's death on Lily's past failures, I feel condolence for Lily as I can now see that she never would mean to bring such harm to her Aunt. 

Throughout the first part of the novel, I had not seen fully Lily's true character, but rather only her more confident mask and pride-filled persona. Now, however, I can see her as a person who is working diligently to become a better version of herself, who is trying to help those around her, and as a person who loves, but is afraid of the pain that might come from the vulnerability of being so open. To fully understand and see another's character, one must look deeper than the external act to the person behind the mask. 

The House of Mirth- Book One

Chapter Four

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Like people in society, characters within a book are defined by their qualities. In Chapter Four, the reader establishes a better grasp upon the relations of the various characters in The House of Mirth. While Lily sees her companions as amiable for "...their elegance, their lightness, their lack of emphasis..." and "...lords of the only world she cared for...," it is their individual characteristics that establish their role in the plot (Wharton, Pages 39-40).

Although many of the characters in The House of Mirth are similar in their competitiveness and greed for wealth and social respect, their qualities as individuals make them intricate parts of the plot. At this point in the story, Bertha Dorset, known for being flirtatious around men despite being married, serves as the antagonist, blocking Lily's way in marriage to Mr. Gryce. Gwen Van Osburgh and Percy Gryce are presented as doubles who share similar ideas, prejudices, and standards. Similarly, Lady Cressida and Carry Fisher are presented as foils to Mrs. Trenor as neither side welcomes the others company and both have different views and practices. Additionally, the reader learns of the relations among the various characters which is important in understanding how they interact and their motives among each other. For example, Bertha Dorset likes Mr. Seldon and is will reck havoc if something or someone blocks her from gaining her desired prize. As such valuable information is gained about the inter workings of the characters, the reader is better able to focus on the development of the major themes within the story and appreciate the similarities and differences of the characters. 

Chapter Three

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

As famous artist Bob Marley once said, "In this bright future, you can't forget your past." Thus, as Chapter Three begins, Lily Bart "...lay(s) in the darkness reconstructing the past out of which her present had grown (Wharton, Page 22)." Through these recollections, the reader gains invaluable insight into who Lily Bart truly is. 

Miss Lily Bart is a beautiful character with strong characteristics that can be traced to her troublesome past. From her father's love of poetry and books, Lily has developed a genuine passion for literature thus allowing her to relate to Mr. Seldon and Mr. Gryce. I believe it is from her mother's death in New York, that Lily has developed her disgust for the "hideous place" (Wharton, Page 3). Finally, from her Aunt's ability to provide only physical nourishment rather than for her emotional needs, Lily developed her endless desire for "being happy" as through wealth  (Wharton, Page 5). As Lily recollects over the past, it appears that she has given up her childhood dreams of marrying for love and has developed traits similar to her late mother who desired marriage for happiness through riches. 

As a round character with multiple qualities and a complex past though, I predict that Lily will become a dynamic character who changes before the story's end and hopefully returns to her inner desire for success. For, while time has passed, there is still time to change and as Bob Marley said, "Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny."