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Gatsby's Gorgeous Car: Objects and the Outsider in F. Scott Fitzgerald's Fiction

Thesis advisor: Christopher P. Wilson / Growing up F. Scott Fitzgerald longed to be a part of the leisure class with whom he socialized and was educated. However, born into a middle class family and destined to be a writer, he never achieved that goal. This preoccupation with the leisure class continued into adulthood and was reflected in his works of fiction. In his writing he repeatedly depicts the outsider, a middle class character who by the means of monetary wealth hopes to rise in society. Through his relationship with the object, this outsider attempts to become a part of the elite and is rejected. Mannerisms and social codes that can only be learned by high birth restrict this individual from reaching social heights. The new wealth of the 1920's creates a paradox for the outsider. The object that the leisure class possesses is easily attainable, however, the upward movement it promises is still out of reach. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2004. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: English. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BOSTON/oai:dlib.bc.edu:bc-ir_102340
Date January 2004
CreatorsLeck, Robin Whitney
PublisherBoston College
Source SetsBoston College
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, thesis
Formatelectronic, application/pdf
RightsCopyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.

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