Thursday, January 05, 2006
making the grade
here it goes again. i have begun getting into the habit of publishing my assignments from school on my blog. currently i am taking a literature course, via correspondence (which is a first for me, being responsible for the whole thing is a bit overwhelming but i have managed so far). this is the first assignment- to compare and contrast the narration of two books HERmione by H.D. and Tender is the Night by F.Scott Fitzgerald. the latter is now on the list of all time favorite books. it is a great read. it is funny at times, but more insightful into relationships and the life and times of being in europe during the 1920's. it doesn't have a happy ending, but truly, what good books do?
here is the paper-
The novels HERmione by H.D. and Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald are ultimately both stories about love and relationships between the sexes. Both novels are influenced and contain many autobiographical qualities that have contributed to the stories, yet they are told in very different ways. However, both are reflections of America and Americans during the early half of the twentieth century, post world war one. At this time in history, there is a strong disillusionment of the American dream and the idea of manifest destiny is dying (if not dead), as there are no longer new lands to discover and peoples to conquer. This feeling is alluded to by E.E. Cummings’ poems “next to of course god America I” and in the poem “Buffalo Bill’s” when he asks “How do you like your blue-eyed boy Mister Death?” (course reader, pp 11) This feeling of disillusionment is held by many contemporary American artists and writers of both H.D. and Fitzgerald at this time. For both authors and many Americans the 1920’s was a period of introspection and self realization as well as an opportunity to create a new definition as to what is means to be “American.” Thus, there is a general fixation with Europe and the European life. Because there is a common history of ancestry, values, and language, Europe is used as a point of comparison and contrast for the Americans to create their own self definition. Similar to the reality of the time, the characters of HERmione and Tender is the Night are questioning their role in society, the world, their relationships, and themselves. Despite the similar themes, the novels are written quite differently.
Tender is the Night is a story told in a conventional style of narration, where the reader follows the lives of the characters through third person story telling. In the novel the reader follows the lives of three main characters; Dick, Nicole, and Rosemary. Although Dick is the central character of the story, we gain a better understanding of him through the experiences and observations of the other two characters. Through the interactions of these three Americans living and working abroad, in Europe, the reader is also presented with the contrasts between the American class system and how they interrelate with one another. Nicole Diver is a young woman born into immeasurable wealth and is part of the old American aristocracy, Dick Diver, born working class, is a highly esteemed doctor of psychology, who despite all his hard work never seems to measure up financially to his wife, and Rosemary Hoyt who is a young blossoming Hollywood actress with the potential for great wealth and is already at the threshold of international fame, each with their own merits, yet none are satisfied with their position or status. Despite their struggles to achieve happiness, none of them truly accomplish this task. There is always a sense of bitter disappointment. However, it is in the minor character of Mary North (Mary Minghetti), who by the end of the novel embodies the ever present American dream, in that she has risen in class and wealth through her second marriage, and has become near royalty. Her success was summed up by Dick when he said, “Little Mary North knows what she wants, Abe educated her, and now she’s married to Buddha. If Europe ever goes Bolshevik she’ll turn up the bride of Stalin.” (pp279).
This idea of an American class system is directly addressed in HERmione as a constant and consistent theme throughout the book. It is first encountered early in the novel with regards to Minnie, Hermione’s working class sister-in-law when she describes her, “It was incredible how a creature of Minnie’s disposition could take it out of everyone. She set for them all a standard… Minnie however was, she knew it, the one fraction that reduced them all, as family, to that level” (pp 16-17). Hermione Gart and her family are considered to be an aristocratic American family, which leads partially to the constant inner struggle she is tormented with throughout the novel. Although Hermione identifies herself as upper-class American she longs to be free of the constraints that go along with it. Hermione firstly is engaged to George Lowndes, who her parents are quite disapproving of because of his lesser family upbringing and the recent questioning of his character when caught with a woman in his room while at university. However, her parents strongly disapprove of her friendship to Fayne Rabb, who in their eyes, is of extreme lower class and not acceptable to hold company with. In both relationships, Hermione is in constant debate as to leave America for the shores of Europe, where she would be able to pursue the course of either relationship. In both instances Europe is gateway to freedom intellectually and through a transcending of class, something which Hermione cannot access in America.
The form of narration in the novel HERmione takes part in both first and third person. It is an extremely difficult story to follow, but one that is necessary to be told in such a manner as to get the story across. One must consider the time period in which the novel was written, especially in regards to the theme of female homosexuality. In the early half of the twentieth century this was an extremely taboo topic, let alone action to partake in, this is evidenced when Hermione says to Fayne “…you and I out to be burnt for witchcraft” in reference to the sexual enterprise they have taken up together (pp 165). The fact that H.D. even embarked upon a centralized topic such as homosexuality was brave, yet as a female in that era she could not directly address the issue with such freedom. One must remember, up until around that time in American history women were treated as second class citizens. It was only in 1919 when women’s suffrage came about in America. Thus H.D. freely interchanged in the style of narration between first and third person. However, every reference to sexual taboos, whether homosexual between Fayne and Hermione, or heterosexual encounters between George and Hermione (being lovers and not married), was made through indirect allusions to the action, never through direct reference. The theme of psychosis was also alluded to at the beginning through the change in narration, but was later addressed directly.
The theme of sexual taboos was also evident in Tender is the Night. Because Fitzgerald was a male he could address these issues directly, unlike H.D. Although homosexuality was not a main topic in Tender is the Night as there was in HERmione, there were other taboo areas where sex was the main theme. Most strikingly was the history of incest between Nicole and her father, which set the tone of the entire novel, as it resulted in the mental breakdown and continual psychosis of Nicole throughout her life in the novel, “People used to say what a wonderful father and daughter we were…We were just like lovers-and then all as once we were lovers” (pp144). This direct reference to sexual incest led into another area of social misconduct, when Dick and Nicole became lovers and eventually husband and wife, breaking the code and ethics of doctor and patient relations. It was at the climax of inner struggle and marital strain when Dick lost his desire to continue his marriage. The romance between doctor and patient was an issue that affected Dick through the rest of his marriage and eventually led to his infidelity with Rosemary. “She wanted to be taken and she was, and what had begun with a childish infatuation on a beach was accomplished at last” (pp 233). What had begun as infatuation and innocent flirtation five years earlier, in the beginning of the novel, was finally consummated, between Dick and Rosemary. This was the beginning of the extra-marital affairs for the Divers, and the seeds of divorce were sown. The story ends with the eventual show-down between Dick and Tommy over a lover’s right to Nicole.
Altogether, both Tender is the Night and HERmione revolved around the theme of what it meant to be American in the first half of the twentieth century. They both held a theme of European and American dualism, and both novels played off of this idea. Although they were definitely told in different styles and took place on different continents, the stories were similar in the fact that they called into question many themes that were pressing matters in their day. In both novels, H.D. and Fitzgerald questioned traditional gender roles and the ideas of classism that were confronting most of America at that time. For Hermione, it was to follow her heart and find love despite the objections of her parents and a puritanical society, and despite her nervous breakdown the novel ended with a sense of hope and promise. On the other hand, Dr. Dick Diver seemed to be in constant internal struggle between what he wanted and what he should do. This inner battle eventually led to his tragic demise and melancholy ending. The “Lost Generation” that both Fitzgerald and H.D. were part of was concerned about living a life they wanted for themselves as opposed to living to the standards and rules of a society and generation that had come before them. They were part of a generation that had seen and fought in the Great War, and were then more concerned with a life that they truly wanted despite breaking social norms.
here is the paper-
The novels HERmione by H.D. and Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald are ultimately both stories about love and relationships between the sexes. Both novels are influenced and contain many autobiographical qualities that have contributed to the stories, yet they are told in very different ways. However, both are reflections of America and Americans during the early half of the twentieth century, post world war one. At this time in history, there is a strong disillusionment of the American dream and the idea of manifest destiny is dying (if not dead), as there are no longer new lands to discover and peoples to conquer. This feeling is alluded to by E.E. Cummings’ poems “next to of course god America I” and in the poem “Buffalo Bill’s” when he asks “How do you like your blue-eyed boy Mister Death?” (course reader, pp 11) This feeling of disillusionment is held by many contemporary American artists and writers of both H.D. and Fitzgerald at this time. For both authors and many Americans the 1920’s was a period of introspection and self realization as well as an opportunity to create a new definition as to what is means to be “American.” Thus, there is a general fixation with Europe and the European life. Because there is a common history of ancestry, values, and language, Europe is used as a point of comparison and contrast for the Americans to create their own self definition. Similar to the reality of the time, the characters of HERmione and Tender is the Night are questioning their role in society, the world, their relationships, and themselves. Despite the similar themes, the novels are written quite differently.
Tender is the Night is a story told in a conventional style of narration, where the reader follows the lives of the characters through third person story telling. In the novel the reader follows the lives of three main characters; Dick, Nicole, and Rosemary. Although Dick is the central character of the story, we gain a better understanding of him through the experiences and observations of the other two characters. Through the interactions of these three Americans living and working abroad, in Europe, the reader is also presented with the contrasts between the American class system and how they interrelate with one another. Nicole Diver is a young woman born into immeasurable wealth and is part of the old American aristocracy, Dick Diver, born working class, is a highly esteemed doctor of psychology, who despite all his hard work never seems to measure up financially to his wife, and Rosemary Hoyt who is a young blossoming Hollywood actress with the potential for great wealth and is already at the threshold of international fame, each with their own merits, yet none are satisfied with their position or status. Despite their struggles to achieve happiness, none of them truly accomplish this task. There is always a sense of bitter disappointment. However, it is in the minor character of Mary North (Mary Minghetti), who by the end of the novel embodies the ever present American dream, in that she has risen in class and wealth through her second marriage, and has become near royalty. Her success was summed up by Dick when he said, “Little Mary North knows what she wants, Abe educated her, and now she’s married to Buddha. If Europe ever goes Bolshevik she’ll turn up the bride of Stalin.” (pp279).
This idea of an American class system is directly addressed in HERmione as a constant and consistent theme throughout the book. It is first encountered early in the novel with regards to Minnie, Hermione’s working class sister-in-law when she describes her, “It was incredible how a creature of Minnie’s disposition could take it out of everyone. She set for them all a standard… Minnie however was, she knew it, the one fraction that reduced them all, as family, to that level” (pp 16-17). Hermione Gart and her family are considered to be an aristocratic American family, which leads partially to the constant inner struggle she is tormented with throughout the novel. Although Hermione identifies herself as upper-class American she longs to be free of the constraints that go along with it. Hermione firstly is engaged to George Lowndes, who her parents are quite disapproving of because of his lesser family upbringing and the recent questioning of his character when caught with a woman in his room while at university. However, her parents strongly disapprove of her friendship to Fayne Rabb, who in their eyes, is of extreme lower class and not acceptable to hold company with. In both relationships, Hermione is in constant debate as to leave America for the shores of Europe, where she would be able to pursue the course of either relationship. In both instances Europe is gateway to freedom intellectually and through a transcending of class, something which Hermione cannot access in America.
The form of narration in the novel HERmione takes part in both first and third person. It is an extremely difficult story to follow, but one that is necessary to be told in such a manner as to get the story across. One must consider the time period in which the novel was written, especially in regards to the theme of female homosexuality. In the early half of the twentieth century this was an extremely taboo topic, let alone action to partake in, this is evidenced when Hermione says to Fayne “…you and I out to be burnt for witchcraft” in reference to the sexual enterprise they have taken up together (pp 165). The fact that H.D. even embarked upon a centralized topic such as homosexuality was brave, yet as a female in that era she could not directly address the issue with such freedom. One must remember, up until around that time in American history women were treated as second class citizens. It was only in 1919 when women’s suffrage came about in America. Thus H.D. freely interchanged in the style of narration between first and third person. However, every reference to sexual taboos, whether homosexual between Fayne and Hermione, or heterosexual encounters between George and Hermione (being lovers and not married), was made through indirect allusions to the action, never through direct reference. The theme of psychosis was also alluded to at the beginning through the change in narration, but was later addressed directly.
The theme of sexual taboos was also evident in Tender is the Night. Because Fitzgerald was a male he could address these issues directly, unlike H.D. Although homosexuality was not a main topic in Tender is the Night as there was in HERmione, there were other taboo areas where sex was the main theme. Most strikingly was the history of incest between Nicole and her father, which set the tone of the entire novel, as it resulted in the mental breakdown and continual psychosis of Nicole throughout her life in the novel, “People used to say what a wonderful father and daughter we were…We were just like lovers-and then all as once we were lovers” (pp144). This direct reference to sexual incest led into another area of social misconduct, when Dick and Nicole became lovers and eventually husband and wife, breaking the code and ethics of doctor and patient relations. It was at the climax of inner struggle and marital strain when Dick lost his desire to continue his marriage. The romance between doctor and patient was an issue that affected Dick through the rest of his marriage and eventually led to his infidelity with Rosemary. “She wanted to be taken and she was, and what had begun with a childish infatuation on a beach was accomplished at last” (pp 233). What had begun as infatuation and innocent flirtation five years earlier, in the beginning of the novel, was finally consummated, between Dick and Rosemary. This was the beginning of the extra-marital affairs for the Divers, and the seeds of divorce were sown. The story ends with the eventual show-down between Dick and Tommy over a lover’s right to Nicole.
Altogether, both Tender is the Night and HERmione revolved around the theme of what it meant to be American in the first half of the twentieth century. They both held a theme of European and American dualism, and both novels played off of this idea. Although they were definitely told in different styles and took place on different continents, the stories were similar in the fact that they called into question many themes that were pressing matters in their day. In both novels, H.D. and Fitzgerald questioned traditional gender roles and the ideas of classism that were confronting most of America at that time. For Hermione, it was to follow her heart and find love despite the objections of her parents and a puritanical society, and despite her nervous breakdown the novel ended with a sense of hope and promise. On the other hand, Dr. Dick Diver seemed to be in constant internal struggle between what he wanted and what he should do. This inner battle eventually led to his tragic demise and melancholy ending. The “Lost Generation” that both Fitzgerald and H.D. were part of was concerned about living a life they wanted for themselves as opposed to living to the standards and rules of a society and generation that had come before them. They were part of a generation that had seen and fought in the Great War, and were then more concerned with a life that they truly wanted despite breaking social norms.
