Similarities between Gatsby and Grapes Flashcards
Both Gatbsy and the Joads hope to achieve more and believe there is better out there
Theme: the American dream
Neither gatsby nor the Joads succeed because of their past, grandpa Joad dies because of his past connection to the land, likewise, gatsby dies because of his past love of Daisy
Theme: holding onto the past
The upper class resent gatsby’s attempt to increase his wealth and status, likewise, the banks and businesses don’t ever help out the Joads in their attempt to survive
Theme: the tension between classes, social injustice
East egg represents the aristocratic wealthy, while west egg represents the new money wealthy.
Oklahoma represents the poor migrants, and California represents the wealthy banks and farmers.
Those in the West in both novels, are careless and represent an impurified and twisted form of the American dream
Those in East- represent the purer form of the American dream
Theme: the American dream, the tension between social classes
A difference but a similarity:
The grapes of wrath are about how to face up to poverty. While the great gatsby is about how to best use your wealth. Both novels are about the times in which they were written but share a similar purpose.
Theme: Wealth and poverty
Both novels face the central conflicts of their times
Tom Buchanan and the banks both have a desire to maintain their status
Theme: selfishness, fear of change
The difference in style:
Fitzgerald writes in a poetic nature to contrast the crude nature of the characters, while Steinbeck writes in a descriptive manner in an attempt to paint the most painted image of the brutal truths
A similar variety of narration but different effects…
Steinbeck narrates from different perspectives to show a different point of views
Fitzgerald narrates from different perspectives to blur the narrative and to add to the chaos and unreliability of the wealthy characters and the story as a whole
