Introduction: The Allure of Obsession
Obsession is a powerful theme that weaves its way through literature, reflecting the depths of human emotion and the often tumultuous journey of desire. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” and Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms,” obsession manifests in various forms, shaping characters’ lives and driving them toward their ultimate destinies. While both novels explore love and ambition, they also delve into the darker side of obsession—how it can lead to destruction, heartache, and disillusionment. This essay aims to examine how these two iconic works illustrate the complexities of obsession through their characters, themes, and settings.
The American Dream: Obsession in The Great Gatsby
“The Great Gatsby” is often heralded as a quintessential critique of the American Dream. At its core lies Jay Gatsby’s obsessive quest for wealth and status as a means to win back Daisy Buchanan, his lost love. Gatsby’s fixation on Daisy transcends mere infatuation; it becomes an all-consuming passion that blinds him to reality. He meticulously constructs his life around her—a lavish mansion in West Egg, extravagant parties filled with glittering guests—all designed with the hope that Daisy will one day return to him.
This obsession manifests not only in his actions but also in his idealized vision of Daisy herself. To Gatsby, she represents more than just a woman; she embodies his dreams and aspirations. However, this idealization is problematic. It prevents him from seeing her flaws or recognizing that she may not feel as deeply for him as he does for her. As he tries to recreate an impossible past—a time when they were young lovers—he becomes trapped in a cycle of longing that ultimately leads to tragedy.
Fitzgerald paints a vivid picture of how this obsession distorts reality. When Gatsby finally reunites with Daisy after years apart, the moment is bittersweet; it’s as if they are two ghosts haunted by their pasts rather than real people living in the present. This reflects a critical commentary on how ambition and desire can cloud judgment, leading individuals away from genuine human connections toward hollow pursuits.
War and Love: Obsession in A Farewell to Arms
In stark contrast to “The Great Gatsby,” Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms” explores obsession within the harrowing context of war. Here we find Lieutenant Frederic Henry embroiled not just in battle but also entangled in an intense love affair with Catherine Barkley. Their relationship serves as both refuge from the chaos surrounding them and a source of profound emotional turmoil.
For Frederic, Catherine becomes an object of obsession—his solace amid the horrors of World War I. Unlike Gatsby’s pursuit of wealth and social status, Frederic’s desire for Catherine centers on survival amidst death and destruction. However, this romantic fixation comes with its own set of complications; Frederic grapples with fear—the fear of losing Catherine mirrors his anxiety about mortality itself.
The novel presents how war heightens emotions, amplifying desires into obsessions that can drive people mad or lead them into deep despair when faced with loss or betrayal. When Catherine suffers complications during childbirth—a moment filled with intensity—it highlights how fragile their love has become under pressure from external forces beyond their control.
The Consequences: Tragedy Born From Obsession
Both novels share poignant moments where obsession spirals out-of-control resulting in tragic outcomes—Gatsby’s demise at the hands fueled by misunderstandings stemming from warped realities created by societal expectations while Frederic faces devastating personal losses stemming directly from choices made during wartime frenzy.
In “The Great Gatsby,” despite achieving immense wealth through dubious means intending solely towards winning over Daisy again fails spectacularly leaving behind devastation among those left behind—the disillusioned Nick Carraway narrating events posthumously making sense out those tragedies laid bare before him forever changed by what transpired.
Meanwhile “A Farewell To Arms” ends not merely inconclusively but heartbreakingly—with Frederic finding himself alone once more devastated after witnessing firsthand fragility life provides contrasted against hardships imposed upon it highlighting grim irony inherent within existence itself shaped profoundly by humanity’s obsessions whether romantic ambitions facing warfare realities must confront ultimately leaving indelible marks across generations moving forward together defined against backdrop loss endured.”
Conclusion: The Double-Edged Sword
The exploration of obsession within “The Great Gatsby” and “A Farewell to Arms” reveals how this powerful emotion drives individuals toward their goals but can also lead them down dark paths filled with heartache and despair. Both Fitzgerald’s critique on materialism juxtaposed alongside Hemingway’s portrayal resilience amidst chaos underline complexities found throughout human experience grounded firmly within relationships formed either surviving world outside our control confronting inevitable endings awaiting us all ultimately deriving meaning wrapped tightly around love itself despite inevitable losses incurred along way shaping identity forever intertwined wherever we go next.”
References
- Fitzgerald, F.S., “The Great Gatsby”, Scribner (1925).
- Hemingway E., “A Farewell To Arms”, Charles Scribner’s Sons (1929).
- Poehler M.J., “Obsession And Desire In Fitzgerald And Hemingway”, Journal Of Literary Studies (2018).
- Miller J., “Love And Loss In Literature”, Modern Fiction Studies (2017).
- Snyder R.E., “American Dreams And Disillusionment In 20th Century Literature”, American Literary History (2020).
