Novel Analysis: The Great Gatsby and Siddhartha Essay

Introduction

The ultimate goal in life is happiness, as reflected in Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Herma Hesse’s Siddhartha. Fitzgerald was an American novelist from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was famous for his narratives emphasizing the Jazz Age and flamboyance. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald pessimistically illustrates the American Dream through Jay Gatsby, who works his way from rags-to-riches but does not earn him pleasure. Hesse’s Siddhartha seems complementary to The Great Gatsby as Brahman, the main role in Siddhartha, finds contentment in self-realization and not in money, sensuality, and love. Herman Hesse was a German poet born in 1877 and died in 1962. The stories exemplify the American Dream’s misconceptions and true contentment, which cannot be attained by affluence and sensuality but by self-realization.

Gatsby

Jay Gatsby is the main character in the story, described as a deeply flawed and dishonest man who works his way to wealth through extraordinary optimism. Gatsby’s early life is miserable, but he works hard to fame and prosperity (Fitzgerald, 2017). He is famous for throwing lavish parties every Saturday night. His friends do not know his rich background except Nick Carraway, who learns that Gatsby hails from North Dakota and earned his capital by working for a millionaire and criminal activity (Fitzgerald, 2017). Gatsby meets Daisy in an officer training camp in Louisville and falls in love with her. Ultimately, Gatsby’s efforts to entice Daisy with money fails when she learns about the sources of this money. Daisy and other friends leave him and do not show up at his funeral except Nick (Fitzgerald, 2017). The main lesson from this depiction is the flawed mentality that many people like Gatsby have about happiness, which is not defined by wealth but by something more profound, such as self-realization.

Nick Carraway

Nick is illustrated as an honest, tolerant, confidant, and faithful friend who reserves judgment. Nick hails from Yale and later relocates to New York City to learn business skills. He befriends the mysterious Jay Gatsby, who also lives in his block. Nick serves as his confidant and keeps Gatsby’s troubling secrets (Fitzgerald, 2017). Moreover, he facilitates rekindling the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy and remains loyal to Gatsby until his burial. The role teaches of the need for or to be true friends as the only action that can give people hope to live.

Siddhartha

As the main character, Siddhartha is reflected as the carrier of the book’s central theme, ‘the seeking of self-realization.’ In the first two chapters, the author Hesse introduces Siddhartha’s early life. He lives an enviable life, and he spends time reading Hindu literature (Hesse & Appelbaum, 1998). However, he seems unhappy and learns that although his father and other Brahmins have acquired complete knowledge from the holy books, they are not happy. It is at this point that he begins his journey for a more satisfying life. Thus, he sets out on a journey to enlightenment and challenges the religious philosophies he is taught. Siddhartha’s role illuminates the need to challenge the status quo in the quest to seek self-fulfillment (Hesse & Appelbaum, 1998). Siddhartha’s journey is unique, and only a few people can firmly challenge policies, unrewarding and unjustified beliefs. It is through this effort that he finally finds the secret to joy.

Conclusion

The narratives are complementary as one leaves a reader questioning how Gatsby should have accomplished his life goal: contentment and Siddhartha provides that answer as seeking self-fulfillment. Gatsby’s thinking and efforts were blocked by his wrong interpretation of a self-satisfying life as that demonstrated by pleasure. Simultaneously, Siddhartha challenged this societal belief that happiness was not attained through capital and religious knowledge but self-realization. The novels enlighten and challenge a reader to seek more in life than material wealth.

References

Fitzgerald. F. S. (2017). The Great Gatsby. Australia.

Hesse, H., & Appelbaum, S. (1998). Siddhartha. Courier Corporation.