Comparison and Contrast in The Great Gatsby Essay -- comparison compar

Comparison and Contrast in The Great Gatsby The success of Francis Scott Key Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is in part payable to his successful characterization of the main characters through the parity and contrast of Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan and George B. Wilson, and Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby. The contrast is achieved through two principle means contrastive opposite qualities held by the characters and contrasting one characters posititve or negative qualities to anothers lack thereof. Conflict is generated when the characters sometimes stand as allegorical opposites. On the other hand, comparison of two characters is rather straightforward. This comparison and contrast is prevalent in Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. To begin with, Daisy and Myrtle have similarities and differences. The similarities revolve around the characters marriages. First, two have an contest sometime in the novel. Myrtles sister, Catherine, whispers to Nick Neither of them can s tand the person theyre married to (33). Partially as a result of this intolerance, both begin affairs. Daisy says that she loves both her husband, Tom, and illegitimate boyfriend, Gatsby I love you Gatsby now -- isnt that enough? ... I did love him Tom once, but I loved you too (133). Daisy says that she loves both Tom and Gatsby. Here, Daisys character mustiness be taken into account. Daisy might just as well love Gatsbys shirts, house, or other status symbols as she loves Gatsby as a person. Similarly, she might also only love Toms status symbols. Myrtle certainly only loves Toms status symbols. She tells Nick, He had on a dress suit and patten leather shoes, and I couldnt keep my eyes off him... (36). This is the point ... ...ization. Works Cited Bewley, Marius. Scott Fizgeralds Criticism of America. Mizener 125-41. Eagleton, Terry. The Function of Criticism. London Verso, 1984. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Collier Edition. vernal York Macmillan Publishing Compa ny, 1925. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia. Redmond, WA Microsoft, 1996. CD-ROM. 1997. Posnock, Ross. A New World, Material Without Being Real Fitzgeralds Critique of Capitalism in The Great Gatsby. unfavourable Essays on Scott Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby. Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston Hall, 1984. 201-13. Spindler, Michael. American Literature and Social Change. Bloomington Indiana UP, 1983. Trilling, Lionel. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Critical Essays on Scott Fitzgeralds Great Gatsby. Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston Hall, 1984. 13-20.