American Dream Individualism

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Following World War I, the Modernist movement, consisting of literature, paintings, music, and other arts, emerged and affected America. The idea of the American dream was popular among Modernist writers. Many focused on this idea by embodying this dream into their characters. The three central ideas of the American dream are admiration for America as a new Eden, optimism, and individualism. Modernist writers saw America as a land of beauty, bounty, and unlimited promise. The ideal protagonist was in pursuit of wealth and pleasure. They thought that pleasure could be acquired abroad instead of at home. Americans also believed in an abundance of opportunities and that life only gets better. Individualism was emphasized. Americans triumphed in the independent and self-reliant individual (Leggett and Brinnin). Modernism was distinctive, because it broke away from traditional values and was bold on experimentation. After World War I, the ideas of the American dream were damaged, and writers started to break away from traditional values and beliefs. New trends such as psychoanalysis and narrative techniques such as the stream of consciousness were introduced. Psychoanalysis was used to unlock the unconscious mind for an understanding of human sexuality and what role it plays on our thoughts, while the stream of consciousness showed the moment-by-moment flow of a character’s thoughts. Prohibition broke out while alcoholism was the norm during the Jazz Age. Tied to the pursuit of pleasure and wealth, authors pursued pleasure abroad, where prohibition was usually not in effect (Leggett and Brinnin). To expand more on the break away from traditional values, a new kind of hero emerged. This new hero was flawed and disillusioned, rather than...

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...g here all day drinking-", showing that Anthony drinking is not something that is new and that it is normal (Fitzgerald 178). As Gloria's and Anthony's situation worsens, their arguments become more extreme. They progressively drink more and their drinking becomes consistent. He becomes obssessed with alcohol and relies on that to get rid of his sadness and his problems. Anthony's alcoholism drives him to ruin and self-destruction. When Fitzgerald's characters achieve and gain their desired possession, the object seems to lose their symbolic importance. Fitzgerald shows that distance is an important part in Anthony's desire for Gloria (Frye). Anthony's demise is driven by his pursuit for pleasure and happiness.

Similar to The Beautiful and Damned, Fitzgerald includes psychoanalysis, disillusionment, and alcoholism in Tender is the Night to make it a Modernist work

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