The Great Gatsby and Sonnets from the Portuguese

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Sonnets from the Portuguese” explore the nature of human hopes and dreams. Both texts convey common themes such as idealistic love, the value of love and death, and societal expectations, however due to context and text type, these elements are expressed differently. These differences substantially affect the similarities of themes and proves to convey different attitudes and results. Both Fitzgerald novel and Browning’s sonnets are defining works of their time as they symbolise, exemplify and criticize societal aspects of their era.

The great Gatsby and sonnet ‘XIII’ are texts used by the writers to criticize and challenge the hopes and dreams of relationships during their time, bringing to pass idealistic love. During Fitzgerald’s time relationships were being affected by the idea of the ‘American Dream’, where people believed they could have it all. This myth however is debunked in his novel through the use of Nick as the first person narrator. Fitzgerald’s voice through Nick allows him to present an honest narration of what is going on during that period, particularly criticising the superficiality of connection. Similarly, Elizabeth uses first person narration in sonnet XIII to convey her true feelings and thoughts. A tone of uncertainty and doubt in the first octet, “Between or faces, to cast light on each?” conveys her sincerity in seeking true, honest and ideal love. This tone however voltars in the following sestet as the use of high modality language “nay”, “rendering the garment” shows her passion and courage to “hold the torch out, where the winds are rough”, excusing all outside influences and expectations. Her stand for pursuit of idealistic love contrasts heavily with Daisy’s lack of depth and overarching carelessness. Jordan Baker tells Nick, “I hate careless people, that’s why I like you” which ironic statement becomes a startlingly true metaphor when Daisy’s...