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Loneliness In The Great Gatsby

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Loneliness is oftentimes considered one of the greatest plights of human existence. It is a feeling that when felt, any living creature looks to shed. It is perhaps for this reason that loneliness is such a powerful theme throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby. The plot itself follows that of a lonesome man looking for love, and each and every character reflect an aspect of loneliness within their core. The book even sets up a certain setting despite its grandiosity, and sets the place for this loneliness to flourish. The loneliness felt by each of the characters causes them all to commit terrible acts that might not necessarily have happened if their minds were not muddled by their feelings. At times they almost appear drunk upon this bleak …show more content…

As the energy of the party begins to die down, Nick makes the observation that, “A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host, who stood on the porch, his hand up in a formal gesture of farewell”(55). This line showcased how quickly a façade can be dropped within a group that is truly lonely. As the tides of people wash away, the bitter feelings that hold the characters and environments within The Great Gatsby hostage begin to once again bear their fangs. One of the most important locations in the book, the dock where Gatsby reaches for the green dot representative of Daisy, also serves to show the isolation that the character feels. Outside of the Valley of Ash, it is perhaps the most emotionally isolated place in the novel, as it serves as a metaphor for the companionship that Gatsby seeks yet will never truly have. A wicked side of loneliness is portrayed as well through the privacy of the apartment in the city that Tom rents out in order to spend time with his lover, Myrtle. He makes sure to keep her isolated from East Egg, as she represents a dark want and desire that he holds within himself, one that he wants to keep away from his true life, yet still close enough that he does not have to go without its

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