Illusions In Ethan Frome

It is certainly true that the characters of ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘Ethan Frome’, and ‘Howl and Other Poems’ turn to illusions in order to escape from the harsh realities of their lives. Becoming increasingly impuissant at coping in the process. The question is whether it is the act of turning to illusions for comfort, that is ultimately responsible for their inability to cope and ultimate downfalls; or if the characters themselves bear ultimate responsibility and are merely hiding behind their immersion in fantasy in attempt to remove any culpability for their actions, of lack thereof, from themselves.

The manner in which the characters create the illusions, in which they seek solace, varies between the three texts, yet the resulting destruction

It was a key belief that in exercising self-control as a society not only the individual, but the entirety of society would be ameliorated therefore it figures that Ethan who succumbs to temptation of imagining a life with Mattie Silver and indulges in the arguably hedonistic act of seeking solace in illusions is condemned to what Carol J Singley calls ‘a living hell without possibility of salvation’ . Similarly, it is not entirely unexpected that this idea is also present in ‘The Great Gatsby’ as although F. Scott Fitzgerald did seek to challenge the ideals of 1920’s society, he was also seeking to write ‘The great American novel’ and, therefore, it would have been necessary for him reflect some of the ideals that defined the time in which he was writing, especially prohibition which in many ways defined the era. Its inclusion in ‘Howl and Other Poems’ is far more surprising as Ginsberg embraced the hedonistic tendencies of the Beatnik, as demonstrated by his numerous affairs frequent drug use. As such it

It is arguable, that it is this fantasy of attaining the unattainable woman that leads to Gatsby’s downfall and tragic death at the end of the novel. Throughout the novel it becomes increasingly clear that Gatsby either will not or cannot accept any realities that contradict his imaginings about how his reconciliation and courtship of Daisy should go. One of the passages in which his inability to accept such deviation is evident is his on the day of his long awaited reunion with Daisy, in which he is so distraught at the idea that it might not go according to his plan, he attempts to leave rather than risking the integrity of his illusions. ‘”Nobody’s coming to tea. It’s too late!” He looked at his watch as if there was a pressing demand on his time elsewhere. “I can’t wait all day”’ . It is extremely revealing that it is at this point that Gatsby’s cultivated veneer of civility slips. In his desperation to protect his illusions Gatsby betrays himself, behaving in a manner that echoes the behavior of a drug addict whose stash is under threat. The fact that Nick Caraway, who protects the ideal of Gatsby through his unreliable style of narration in the novel, notes this loss of control is an indication of its significance. Due to his fixation with illusion Gatsby is unable to function in the face of