Examples Of A Sense Of Places In The Great Gatsby

A sense of place is defined through the particular experiences that an individual encounters in a particular setting. As an individual encounters these experiences in a particular setting, feelings are created that grasp and manipulates an individual. The author of The Stranger Albert Camus’ although denies being an existentialist, he shows the existentialist belief that life is meaningless through the use of the protagonist Meursault. In addition, this belief of Meursault's causes him to have a distance relationship with the society and conveys a sense of place to its readers. However, the author of The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s creates a separation of two different social classes to convey a sense of place for its readers. Overall,

through the use of characterization and imagery in F.

Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Albert Camus’ The Stranger, exhibits the universal theme: individuals struggle to fit into an indifferent society to convey a sense of place to their readers. Moreover, the intention of the two texts’ is to make the readers feel ambivalent and as an outsider to the novel.

It is throughout The Great Gatsby that F. Scott Fitzgerald conveys the underlying idea of a sense of place through the use of characterization of Gatsby, who lives in West Egg and has worked hard for his wealth. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald develops and establishes the characteristics of Gatsby’s willingness and desire to obtain the comfort of fitting into an indifferent society to adequately convey a sense of place to its readers. Gatsby’s motive throughout the novel of fitting into an indifferent society is his love for Daisy, who lives in East Egg with her husband Tom Buchanan. The particular feeling that Gatsby grasps for Daisy acts as a

driving force and pursues him to strive for his desire to fit in Daisy’s society throughout the novel. This desperate want to fit into Daisy’s society and gain her love is seen at the beginning of the novel as Gatsby reaches his arms for the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, “[...] he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him... nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock” (21). The quote implies Gatsby’s strong hopefulness and willingness towards Daisy’s love, but shows that despite being separated by two different societies views, the East Egg and the West Egg, he will cross the limit and undertake any obstacle to fit into Daisy's society. Additionally, this creates an ambivalent feeling for its readers because in the novel Gatsby has connections with illegal activity and hence him attempting to fit into Daisy’s society makes Gatsby's portrayal as a negative character with flaws to its readers. As a result, making the readers feel ambivalent and an outsider about Gatsby’s situation throughout the novel.
Similarly, in The Stranger, Albert Camus’ uses the tool of characterization of the protagonist Meursault, French Algerian living in colonial Algiers, to convey a sense of place to its readers.

In The Stranger, Camus’ displays Meursault as an individual that believes in the idea that human life is completely meaningless and absurd throughout the novel. Since Meursault believes that the existential belief holds to be true as well as him being an atheist makes him viewed by the society as a threat. This is further supported when Meursault and the priest are having a conversation about the existence of God, “[…] drawing himself up to his full height and asked me if I believed in God. I said no. He sat down indignantly. He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him. That was his belief, and if he were ever to doubt it, his life would become meaningless. "Do you want my life to be meaningless?" (69). This particular quote implies that both Meursault’s and the priest’s views about the existence of God are different from each other. Thus, Meursault’s image and the abstract idea of the meaninglessness of life is viewed in a negative way by the society. However, this difference in beliefs between Meursault as well as the society makes the readers gain an ambient feeling about Meursault’s character because throughout the novel Meursault doesn't alter his views towards life and God. In addition to that, this man vs society conflict makes the

readers observe Meursault’s situation as an outsider and judge his character throughout the novel.
It is through the use of imagery that authors illustrate, convey a sense of place, and themes to its readers. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s includes the tool of imagery to convey a sense of place to its readers. Through the use of imagery, Fitzgerald shows that individuals that reside in East Egg inherit their wealth and on the other side West Egg residents work for their wealth. Additionally, this divide between the two societies, due to their standard of living, illustrates the idea that the West Egg and the East Egg consist of different social views. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald writes, “I lived at West Egg, the-well, the less fashionable of the two, though this is a most superficial tag to express the bizarre and a little sinister contrast between them...across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water” (5). The quote implies that Nick even though resides in West Egg his views and judgment of the two different social groups alters due to their differences in social class. Also, this tends Nick to lean towards one side of the society and not fully fit into one particular society. Moreover, this separation between the East Egg and the West Egg generates an ambivalent feeling and makes the reader isolated from the two different societies. Since both West Egg and East Egg are filled with ambition and the desire to make money. In addition, the readers are isolated from the two different social class because they are just observing the disconnect between the two indifferent societies in the novel.
Furthermore, in The Stranger, Albert Camus’ also uses imagery to convey a sense of place to its readers. In The Stranger, Camus incorporates the imagery of the sun to create an ambivalent atmosphere for its readers. In The Stranger, Camus’ writes, “[..] All I could feel were the cymbals of sunlight crashing on my forehead and, indistinctly, the dazzling spear flying up from the knife in front of me...Then I fired four more times at the motionless body” (59). Camus’ use of imagery of the sun in this quote conveys that Meursault’s emotions and actions are influenced by nature. More importantly, the control of the sun over Meursault's emotions leads him to kill the Arab for no particular reason, but this inhumane action of Meursault causes him a rough time to fit into the society. Hence, Meursault's reputation and the acceptance in society declines and he is viewed as a negative character. Also, due to the readers being unaware of Meursault’s intention for killing the Arab it makes the readers feel ambivalent, estranged from Meursault's character, and as an outsider just observing Meursault's character throughout the novel.
Above all, through the use of characterization and imagery in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Albert Camus’ The Stranger, it exhibits the universal theme: individuals struggle to fit into an indifferent society to convey a sense of place to their readers. Fitzgerald’s uses these devices and the disconnect between the East Egg and the West Egg to aid in showing and conveying an ambivalent feeling throughout the novel to its readers. Camus’ uses these tools and Meursault’s distance relationship with the society to make the readers observe his situation as an outsider and thus causing the readers to feel ambivalent. Also, all these aids in conveying the underlying idea of a sense of place.