Human Selfless or Selfish in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott...

Is human nature inherently selfless or selfish? Although a seemingly simple concept, the aforementioned question has long been a profoundly controversial topic. While many claim that humans are intrinsically compassionate and inclined to help those in need, others argue that people instinctively prioritize their own individual security over other people’s welfares. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s literary works, â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† and The Scarlett Letter, as well as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s renowned novel, The Great Gatsby, all reference the idea that people impulsively pursue perfection, as determined by their community’s values. While different communities establish different standards for perfection, society as whole romanticizes the idea of†¦show more content†¦Similarly, although Dimmesdale’s adultery with Hester drives his moral corruption, his failure to repent for his sin becomes his leading character fault. In one encounter, Hest er exposes Dimmesdale as â€Å"broken down by long and exquisite suffering† (The Scarlet Letter, pg. 181), rendering the ministers formerly sanctified character â€Å"darkened and confused by the very remorse which harrowed it†(181). Dimmesdale’s â€Å"suffering† and â€Å"remorse†, symbolize how his initial decision to suppress his sin has degraded his integrity and obscured his moral compass, preventing his return to a path of moral righteousness. Reluctant to tarnish their seemingly faultless reputations, both Goodman Brown and Dimmesdale try to justify their actions, rather than publicly confessing to their sin. Subsequently, both men ultimately resort to hypocritical behavior in order to rationalize their antics. After his encounter with the Devil, Goodman Brown is in denial of his sin. He tries to convince himself that by refusing the Devils proposal back in the forest he has avoided violating puritan values; however, he already admits to dis reputable intent when he uses his â€Å"excellent resolve for theShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1356 Words   |  6 PagesThe Tragedy that is The Great Gatsby In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tragic story of the roaring twenties, he demonstrates different aspects of the 20s metaphorically through his main characters including Nick Carraway, Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, George and Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker. He relates each person to different aspects to further their personal characterization and give them motives to each of the choices they make, resulting in how the book ends. This furthers his development andRead MoreThe Disillusionment of American Dream in Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night19485 Words   |  78 PagesThe disillusionment of American dream in the Great Gatsby and Tender is the night Chapter I Introduction F. Scott Fitzgerald is the spokesman of the Jazz Age and is also one of the greatest novelists in the 20th century. His novels mainly deal with the theme of the disillusionment of the American dream of the self-made young men in the 20th century. In this thesis, Fitzgerald’s two most important novels The Great Gatsby(2003) and Tender is the Night(2005) are analyzed. Both these two novels