Allusions In The Great Gatsby

Seeing a story or situation from someone else’s perspective broadens understanding of not only the situation but the person as well. A problem or argument can be solved by finding common ground. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, the authors aim to find common ground with readers through the use of biblical allusions to Christ. The protagonists, while varied in age and personality, present themselves as representations of Christ. Although the two novels depict two protagonists with differing struggles and demeanors, the two authors both utilize allusions to characterize the two men and aid readers in witnessing and sympathizing their struggles.

Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald focuses on the protagonist, Jay Gatsby, an outlandish individual with “heightened sensitivity to the promises of life” (Fitzgerald 2), through allusions to Christ among his actions, manner, and death. Gatsby lives his life lavishly and throws

It is through Santiago’s responses to these obstacles that Hemingway utilizes allusion. After Santiago finally hooks a large fish, he faces a new battle, reeling in the fish. In this situation the fish serves as the old man’s enemy; yet, Santiago does not view the fish as so. Instead, he admires the fish and views it as “more noble and more able” than himself (Hemingway 63). The old man expresses a love and connection with his enemy, a concept Christ often preached to his disciples. Jesus instructed his disciples to “love your enemies” and to “bless those who curse you” (Holman Christian Standard Bible, Luke 6.27-28). Santiago’s perspective on his adversaries further develop his pure and loving persona. Readers, with his attitude in mind, are drawn to empathize his trials, which are chronicled through many numeric and symbolic