Write about the significance of protagonists in The Great Gatsby, The Kite Runner and Miss Gee
by
pseudonymegg (student)
Write about the significance of protagonists in the narratives of the three writers you have studied.
In ‘The Great Gatsby’ Fitzgerald uses meaningful absence when describing Gatsby, in order to spark curiosity from the reader and consequently engage the audience into the narrative. Through Nick’s narration Fitzgerald presents Gatsby with a religious solemnity ‘out to determine what share was his of our local heavens’ and suggests there is something about Gatsby which is intangible to the reader on the limited information conveyed thus far. It shows there is an elusiveness that effortlessly sets him out as special. At the end of the opening chapter Fitzgerald firmly separates Gatsby from the narcissism and ignorance of the Tom Buchanan ‘the white race will be – utterly submerged’, as Nick describes how Gatsby was observing the ‘silver pepper of stars’ which creates a feeling that Gatsby is a dreamer who aspires to go onto a better life, this instantly envelops the reader into the novel through an interest and adoration of Gatsby. Fitzgerald ensures Gatsby’s reputation precedes him, which presents him as aloof and enigmatic. The subject of a whirlwind of gossip before he has been introduced to the reader, the delayed character revelation also suggests a theatrical quality to Gatsby’s character which seamlessly attracts our attention.
Furthermore Fitzgerald presents Gatsby and his dream, encapsulated in ‘the green light’, universally which allows the reader to personally relate to the novel. In the penultimate line of the novel this is portrayed through Fitzgerald’s use of collective pronouns ‘we beat on, boats against the current’, he references the dreamer in all of us and suggests no matter what obstacles ‘current’ may lie in our paths, tomorrow ‘we will run faster’ and ultimately we should never relent until we have secured our dream. Equally, Fitzgerald symbolises Gatsby’s dream through the ‘green light’, the elusiveness about this symbol, the fact it’s ‘nothing except a green light’ allows the reader to relate since it can become symbolic for the hopes and desires of any reader. The determination of Gatsby, shown though his obsession and concern over his dream ‘trembling’, is inspiring and stimulates the audience’s capacity for greatness, just as Nick was inspired to write about Gatsby and perhaps more importantly Fitzgerald was motivated to write too.
