This Side Of Paradise Literary Analysis

681 Words2 Pages

Brett Nelson
Professor Jeffrey Morgan
LIT221
November 16, 2014
This Side of Paradise: Literary Elements and the Path to Self-discovery
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1920 novel “This Side of Paradise,” was supremely controversial for its time. The Modernism ideals presented throughout the piece, such as those of socialism and feminism, demonstrated a great deal about the time period and the rapid societal changes. Amidst the novels modernistic values however, lies the true message of the book, self-discovery. Self-discovery is a very American quality, as American’s have been trying to discovery themselves since first landing on the shores. The melting pot that is the United States has always struggled with self-identity to some extent, in part, because …show more content…

Amory begins as an egotistical, vein young boy who eventually develops into a man who ultimately achieves some portion of the self-knowledge he has spent his life seeking. This knowledge is of course only gained at the cost of losing his wealth and friends. The beginning of the novel paints a rather unflattering image of Amory, as his personality at the time is derived mostly from his interaction with his quite eccentric mother Beatrice Blaine. Her sense of entitlement, snobbish attitude and ego are all qualities that are inflicted upon and absorbed by Amory. He was raised without restrictions, morals guidance or social skills, which led him to follow in his mother’s footsteps. This lack of rules caused Amory to become demanding, entitled and snobbish, with a complete lack of disregard for social niceties and common courtesy. “Amory was biting acquiescent bell-boys in the Waldorf, outgrowing a natural repugnance to chamber music and symphonies, and deriving a highly specialized education from his mother,” (Fitzgerald, 14). Unfortunately, even after leaving his mother’s side to attend school in Minneapolis, these less-than-admirable qualities still inflicted Armory. His snobbishness goes as far as to render him without friends except for perhaps the many young girls he has managed to charm, if only temporarily. “Armory wondered how people

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