The_Great_Gatsby

In life we often find ourselves not finishing certain tasks in life that are our only hopes and dreams. We base our life on them for a period of time and get so caught up we don’t realize why and where were going. In The Great Gatsby and The Scarlett Letter the image and scene in the text shows how the central death makes it possible to release the lives of the people left behind. We find ourselves left behind with other peoples problems and with the tragic event of them dyeing we are set free of our problems that lingered with them. In the Scarlett Letter, the Scarlett letter A on her chest constantly reminds Hester, that she has sinned. Throughout the book the problems she faces everyday never go away and make it harder on her daughter pearl. The Letter A symbolizes outlaw and shame and that touches upon how Pearl lives. Pearl has an idea that all woman wear the letter A’s and fears she might wear one to, “Mother,” said little Pearl, “the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom … it will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet!” “Nor ever will, my child, I hope,” said Hester. “And why not, mother'” asked Pearl, stopping short … “Will it not come of its own accord, when I am a woman grown'” (161). This quote shows that Pearl is being trapped by Hester’s sins and reconciliation. She feels like she is involved and needs something to let her free. She continually fears that the letter A will to follow her into her past. In the Great Gatsby, there is a want for love that does not remain. This unfortunately is not viewed and seen by the person that wants what they cannot have, and bases there life on it. Gatsby has an image that his heart is set on. He has a destination that we know he can never reach but in his reality he will always try harder. His love for daisy is so strong and powerful that he often gets caught up and does not notice the people struggling around him. Nick is the one being left behind to start a new life, when Gatsby dies this can all is released. “I have an idea that Gatsby himself didn’t believe it would come, and perhaps he no longer cared. If that was true he must have felt that had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living to long with a single dream” (161). This shows that nick is living with Gatsby sorrows. Nick is literally living in Gatsby problems and until the passing he cannot be released. When Hester’s time has come we see the dramatic change in Pearl and the way she finishes her life. Pearl is able to now live without the constant judgment and reminder. We see that she moves far away and that she isn’t a product of Adultery anymore and aren’t reminded of the Scarlett letter A. Written on the gravestone symbolizes both Hester and Pearls relief. Written, “On A Field, Sable, The Letter A, Gules” (233). This is showing that Hester has passed leaving the future up to Pearl; She is now free in whatever she does and doesn’t hold the weight of sin anymore. The last scene in the Great Gatsby is the most touching and meaningful. It shows the relationship between separating from your wants and desire. It caused Gatsby to die with his wants and desires knowing that they would never be fulfilled. In the end, Nick shows how he is living in Gatsby desires. “He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that I was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on the under night” (180). This quote shows that Nick realizes what Gatsby has lost. Gatsby has lived a life that has touched Nick and made him emotionally attached to his wants. When Gatsby dies Nick has released Gatsby. In The Scarlett Letter and The Great Gatsby share both the wants and desires combined with sinning and reconciliation are always there with that character until they die. But what is left behind is now set free. Hester had the fear and humiliation every day, which was then carried on to her daughter Pearl. Gatsby had a dream that was so big that could never be filled that he eventually dies in it. Nick is the product and remorse of Gatsby wants. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter – to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther … And one fine morning ––– So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (180).