The Great Gatsby Influence

Words: 1606
Pages: 7

The Influence Of The Past: A Literary Analysis In the legendary novel, "The Great Gatsby" by F.Scott Fitzgerald, the main character, Nick, meets a bewildering man who lives a mysterious life. As the book progresses the reader gains a greater understanding of Nick's aquiantance, and how he gains a glamorous and luxorious life. Simultaniously, the story of, "A Rose for Emily" dabbles with a similar concept, as the main character's life is told through the eyes of the town, and their curiousness as to how she carries herself. In both, "The Great Gatsby", and, "A Rose for Emily", the authors of these 1920s pieces of literature use conflict, flashback, and imagery to give a clear theme of living in the past having a toll on the future. Throughout both written works, conflict is applied more then once. The use of this literary element adds to the message of the past affecting the future by demonstrating the causes of most the nagative tolls that occur in the story's present. In, "The Great Gatsby", chapter seven explodes with external conflict between Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby himself. In that chapter Tom, Gatsby, Daisy, Jordan, and Nick take a ride out to the city. Even before the group arrives at their destination the tension between Tom, and Gatsby is already simmering. When the argument between the two men erupts, Daisy is caught inbetween, as they battle over who she loves. The use …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald, and "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner, the literary elements of conflict, flashback, and imagery are tremendously used to relay the theme to the reader. Both James Gatsby, and Mrs. Emily faced much conflict with others, and themselves with the deicsions they made during their lifetimes. In the end, both characters in both books lived either empty or unfulfilled lives because they let the past control their futures. Both beautiful pieces of literature have the theme of how living in the past can have a toll on your