Changes in Era and American Culture Reflected in Its...

As the eras changed, so did American culture. Literary works including The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, reveal two main characters who are alienated by their societies and who are not valued for their true worth as individuals. Both characters in these novels endure an identity crisis, which then leads to them become their own tragic hero/heroine. Both F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, depict characters that reinvent themselves in order to conform to their own ideas of how they should live and how people should perceive them. In each text, the main characters are both, in a way, trapped in their lifestyles. Jay Gatsby and Hester Prynne both rise from the ashes. Distraught over their pasts, but determined to create a new and better life for themselves, Jay Gatsby and Hester Prynne use every opportunity to better their situations. In the end, both characters leave their marks and leave us as readers to decipher their sy mbolic meaning. Nathaniel Hawthorne writes a story on the strengths and weaknesses of his Puritan ancestors which inspired him to write The Scarlett Letter. Hawthorne creates the protagonist named Hester Prynne. Hester commits adultery with her secret lover Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and with that came her daughter Pearl. The antagonist, the Puritan society in Boston, finds out about this and decides to brand Hester with something to make it know that she is a sinner. TheyShow MoreRelatedChapter 31 Essential Questions Essay1072 Words   |  5 PagesChapter 31 Essential Questions 1. How and why did America turn toward domestic isolation and social conservatism in the 1920s? Americans turned toward domestic isolation and social conservatism in the 1920s because of the red scare. Many people used the red scare to break the backs of all struggling unions. Isolationist Americans had did not have a lot of hope in the 1920s. There began to be a large amount of immigrants flowing into the US. During 1920-1921, over 800,000 immigrants had comeRead MoreThe New Negro Movement, By Zora Neale Hurston1720 Words   |  7 Pagesintellectual and artistic African American leaders during the 1920s. It was a manifestation of embracing poetry, literature, music, art, film, fashion and all things synonymous with creativity. It begun during the end of World War 1, in a relatively small section in New York City and ended during the aftermath of The Great Depression. This was by far one of the most influential movements in African American culture. African Americans took pride in themselves and in their culture and wanted to showcase thisRead MoreThe Influence of History on American Literature Essay1546 Words   |  7 Pagesbe After the Fact†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is how Stephan Crane introduced his harrowing story, â€Å"The Open Boat,† but this statement also shows that history influences American Literature. Throughout history, there has been a connection among literary works from different periods. The connection is that History, current events, and social events have influenced American Literature. Authors, their literary works, and the specific writing styles; are affected and influenced by the world around them. Authors have long used experiencesRead MoreThe American Dream Through Literature1496 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept of the American Dream. That is, that any person regardless of circumstances of birth can become successful through hard work and persistence, regardless of where they came from. 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As new technologies designed to improve everyday living became available to people across the nation, a new culture was rising in America: a culture that both afforded comfort and thrived on capitalism. There were many critics of this new America, including poets Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams. The aforementioned poets reflected on a fast changing America thr ough exploitation. As an American, Poet William Carlos Williams believedRead MoreAntebellum Period And American History1548 Words   |  7 Pagesall the way to the American Civil War. This is a period in American history that is remarkable for its incredible magnitude of changes in the country’s history; industrial revolution, westward expansion, women’s history, and transportation revolution to name a few. Leaving aside all the rebellions, treaty’s, and massacres. The pages to follow will mainly focus on the Antebellum Fine Arts. The amazing world of literature, marvelous drawings, and beautiful music. All part of this era that marked history