Blog Topic #4: Text to Text Connections
While reading The Great Gatsby, I made several text connections to literary works that I have read within the past few years. One very strong connection that I found was the similarity between Gatsby and Romeo Montague, from Shakespeare’s world-wide known play, Romeo and Juliet. Both Gatsby and Romeo had chosen-either aware or not-to be completely blinded and helpless to the enormous power of their love for somewhat forbidden and unreachable women. Gatsby, falling for Daisy Buchanan, a unique and ‘caged’ woman, was married to Tom Buchanan, with whom they gave birth to a child. Tom was both a physically and mentally intimidating, strong, and wealthy man. On the other hand, Romeo fell for Juliet Capulet, the daughter of his family’s sworn enemy. Both men realize the risk and danger of acting on their love for the individual women, and sadly both men ultimately follow their hearts to their ill fate. Although, one very large difference is the fact that Romeo took his own life out of grief for his “deceased” love, or so he thought. Gatsby, on the other hand, died protecting Daisy from a fate he didn’t want for her, and took the blame and fate meant for Daisy, death. This heroic action out of pure love is reminding of the sacrificial heroic actions of Sydney Carton, in Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. Sydney Carton took the consequence of an action he did not commit, and sacrificed his life for the happiness of the woman he loved, Lucie Manette. Both Gatsby and Sydney’s action reveal Christ-like qualities within the two men, for they both sacrificed their life for others. Through both connections, one can infer the nobility, loyalty, and love-struck blindness of Jay Gatsby.
Your text connection of Jay Gatsby to Romeo Montague is quite perceptive. Your ability to uncover Fitzgerald's similarity of Gatsby's characteristics to Romeo's emphasizes, as you said, the "love-struck blindness of Jay Gatsby." Although both men's lives are taken in different ways, both deaths are similar in that they die ultimately because of their infatuation with women they, realistically, can never have. I also appreciate your connection of Jay Gatsby to Sydney Carton. Gatsby goes to great lengths to attain love; although in the end it is never reached. Like Sydney Carton's sacrifice for Lucie, his own sacrifice allows Daisy to find happiness. Both of the text connections you included are very insightful, and relatable to The Great Gatsby. It seems as though Fitzgerald purposely incorporated similarities between Gatsby and Romeo, and Gatsby and Sydney. Perhaps, he was influenced by reading these literary works himself.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your text connection between Jay Gatsby and Romeo Montague. I enjoyed how you both stated how these characters were alike and how they are different. Like you said, Gatsby and Romeo were both "completely blinded and helpless to the enormous power of their love," which is true. In contrast to their similarities, you explained how, although Gatsby did die for his love, it wasn't in the same feeling that Romeo died for his love and I failed to see the difference. Though I did not read A Tale of Two Cities, you did an excellent job elaborating the connection that can be made between both stories.
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