This paper aims at comparing the illustration of elites in two different temporal episodes. The novels, which will be the basis for this comparison, are F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Bret Easton Ellis´ American Psycho. The explanation of the literary choices will be delivered in the next section. Both, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Bret Easton Ellis, have created characters larger than life which partly represent the perversion of the upper classes but both also provide literally, symbolically and figuratively different approaches to escape the problems they are facing.
May it be Jay Gatsby or Patrick Bateman; they both feel uncomfortable in their respective environments and strive for something their current life cannot provide. Those desires reflect the bygone and contemporary decoupling of the upper classes lives and thereby comment on society as a whole in their respective temporal context.
After explaining what makes those novels predestinated for a comparison, New York as a social and cultural concept and its history will be depicted. Considering that both novels take place in New York and the geographical space clearly has an impact on the progression of the plot but also the mindset of the protagonists, New York needs to be understood first, to then derive sense from the novels taking place there. Afterwards, the term elites will be defined and set into context.
After having created a working definition of the term elites, the work on the two novels will start with a temporal contextualization of the novel and the authors’ lives. After doing so, the actual illustration of the elites will be analyzed. In a second step, the two novels and their depiction of the upper classes will be compared and contrasted. After identifying both, differences but also uniting factors, the conclusion will pick up the hypothesis from the beginning and on the basis of that, new questions for further research will be raised.
Media and artists had and still have enhanced interest in the life and doings of elites. The reasons for that might be diverse and range from pure voyeurism to complex social criticism. Nonetheless, elites occupy artists’ minds ever since and the list of authors who incorporated elites into their plays, stories or novels is long and prestigious. Even until today, the concept of elites has an undeniable impact on both, society and art.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Explanation of the literary choices
- Theoretical Approach
- New York as a social and cultural sphere
- The Definition of Elites
- The Great Gatsby
- The Jazz Age
- About the author
- The illustration of elites in The Great Gatsby
- American Psycho
- The 1980s
- About the author
- Illustration of elites in American Psycho
- The comparison
- Differences
- Similarities
- Summary and Tendencies
- Outlook and further research questions
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to compare the portrayal of elites in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho, analyzing how this depiction changed over approximately 70 years. The analysis will focus on the social and cultural context of New York City, where both novels are set, and employ a post-modern critical approach.
- The evolution of the portrayal of elites in American literature.
- The role of New York City as a backdrop for exploring elite culture.
- The use of narrative techniques to reveal the perspectives and motivations of elite characters.
- A comparative analysis of thematic similarities and differences between the two novels.
- The exploration of the "American Dream" as a concept within the context of elite society.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This paper explores the portrayal of elites in The Great Gatsby and American Psycho, examining how their representation reflects societal changes between the 1920s and the 1980s. It argues that both novels, despite their temporal distance, offer insights into the anxieties and contradictions inherent in elite life, showing how characters from different social strata interact and compete, providing a commentary on societal dynamics of their respective eras. The study aims to determine if American Psycho can be viewed as a radicalized continuation of the themes presented in The Great Gatsby, specifically the portrayal of the upper class as bored, narcissistic, and engaged in constant competition.
Explanation of the literary choices: This section justifies the selection of The Great Gatsby and American Psycho for comparative analysis. Both novels are set in New York City, focusing on the upper class, and feature narrators with financial backgrounds, allowing for a controlled comparison of elite portrayals across different decades. The temporal gap (approximately 70 years) between the novels' settings provides a unique lens through which to observe the evolution of societal perceptions of elites. The authors' shared critique of the "American Dream" as a disillusioning concept further strengthens the rationale for this comparative study, highlighting the cyclical nature of societal dissatisfaction within elite circles.
Theoretical Approach: This chapter outlines the theoretical framework for the analysis: post-modern criticism. The paper utilizes several aspects of post-modern literary analysis, including a focus on themes, tendencies, and attitudes within the novels; an examination of shifting identities and genre blending; and an exploration of intertextuality. The analysis incorporates the authors' autobiographical elements to enrich the understanding of the novels' themes and characters. The framework allows for a nuanced comparison of the two novels by identifying common denominators and examining how they manifest differently in their respective contexts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Elites, upper class, The Great Gatsby, American Psycho, New York City, social criticism, post-modernism, American Dream, narrative techniques, comparative analysis, societal change, 1920s, 1980s.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Elites in The Great Gatsby and American Psycho
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the portrayal of elites in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho. It examines how this depiction has evolved over approximately 70 years, focusing on the social and cultural context of New York City and employing a post-modern critical approach.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including the evolution of the portrayal of elites in American literature; the role of New York City as a backdrop for exploring elite culture; the use of narrative techniques to reveal the perspectives and motivations of elite characters; a comparative analysis of thematic similarities and differences between the two novels; and the exploration of the "American Dream" within the context of elite society.
Which novels are compared, and why were they chosen?
The paper compares The Great Gatsby and American Psycho. The selection is justified by the novels' shared setting (New York City), focus on the upper class, and financially-grounded narrators, enabling a controlled comparison across different decades. The significant temporal gap between their settings (approximately 70 years) offers a unique perspective on the evolution of societal perceptions of elites. The authors' shared critique of the disillusioning "American Dream" further strengthens the comparative study.
What theoretical approach is used in the analysis?
The analysis utilizes a post-modern critical approach, focusing on themes, tendencies, and attitudes within the novels; examining shifting identities and genre blending; and exploring intertextuality. The authors' autobiographical elements are incorporated to enrich the understanding of the novels' themes and characters. This framework allows for a nuanced comparison by identifying common denominators and examining how they manifest differently in their respective contexts.
What are the chapter summaries?
The introduction sets the stage for the comparison, arguing that both novels offer insights into the anxieties and contradictions of elite life. The section on literary choices justifies the selection of the two novels. The theoretical approach chapter outlines the use of post-modern criticism. Further chapters delve into specific aspects of the novels' portrayals of elites, including their social and cultural context and narrative techniques used to reveal character motivations. The final chapter summarizes findings, highlighting similarities and differences, and suggests avenues for further research.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Elites, upper class, The Great Gatsby, American Psycho, New York City, social criticism, post-modernism, American Dream, narrative techniques, comparative analysis, societal change, 1920s, 1980s.
What is the overall argument or conclusion of the paper (as previewed)?
The paper aims to determine if American Psycho can be viewed as a radicalized continuation of the themes presented in The Great Gatsby, specifically the portrayal of the upper class as bored, narcissistic, and engaged in constant competition. The analysis will reveal how the representation of elites reflects societal changes between the 1920s and the 1980s, showing how characters from different social strata interact and compete, providing a commentary on societal dynamics of their respective eras.
- Quote paper
- Till Neuhaus (Author), 2014, Elites in "The Great Gatsby" and "American Psycho". A Comparison of the Illustration of Elites, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/470717
