The Great Gatsby Dialectical Journal

J.C. Burke’s coming of age novel The Story of Tom Brennan construes the evolving life of Tom Brennan after a tragic accident. Narrating in a first-person point of view, Tom guides the reader through the raw details of his inner conflict and finding his way back to being a better version of himself. This essay aims to analyse the author’s portrayal of mental health, internal conflict and the effects of grief, loss and tragedy that are presented through each of the characters’ troubled perspectives.

In ‘The Story of Tom Brennan’, the protagonist confronts a traumatic incident which compels him to undergo a physical relocation and sudden emotional change. The transition Tom predominantly faces is sudden as moving into the town of Coghill where he has to deal with social alienation and the horrific trauma inflicted through past events including Daniel’s anger and selfishness which hinders his physical and mentally growth and development. Tom experiences flashbacks of the ‘usual’ Australia Day with his family showing the complete paradox with what is now their reality and horror juxtaposed towards his flashback of the tragic accident of his older brother Daniel: “Running towards the car. Running into the headlights. Running into the silence of death.” The anaphora and repetition of ‘running’ highlights his emotional and physical devastation which emphasises the initial stages of the novel and negative connotations of ‘death’ assumes the setting. As a result of the crisis, Tom responds rather opposing towards transferring to a new setting of Coghill. Depressing motifs are frequently implied throughout the novel to express the feeling of despair and sadness: “There aren’t words to say how black and empty pain felt. It was deeper than the

With a cheeky grin, he climbed onto the bed and positioned himself between Tom’s bent knees. When he saw the slight apprehension in

With a weary grunt, Booker shifted the bag of groceries in his arms and kicked his apartment door closed with his foot. He had planned to be home early so he take Tom out to dinner as a birthday surprise, but as usual, work had ruined his plans. When he had rung Tom and explained that he would be home late, he had expected him to react moodily, but instead, he had received a sympathetic response. It was a sign that their relationship was now on stable footing. Tom was more open about his feelings, and they argued less about the trivialities of everyday life; they were moving forward.

Through The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain, he shows through juvenalian satire the irony of Tom’s life. Tom shows through his actions that he is a man of no morals. He gambles, steals and treats his family poorly. These actions come back to haunt Tom as he is the man who should be working on the plantation not Chambers. He is eventually sold down the river ironically as he tries to do the same to his mother.

Posters and pamphlets strewn across the walls accompany the harsh, burning stench of disinfectant. Passing the bodies of former men, and followed by the click-clack of nurses shoes, he sees him. Hollow cheeks, sunken eyes, every bone visible through the thin hospital gown. His love is a shell of the man he once knew, Patty is gone.

- He offered me to take the blame, but I know that did not kill Jill and that man. I could not. I loved Jill - contritely said the man and shut by the hands face. - I saw how he killed her and was unable to help ... no one believes me, and ye believe not. So why come? Convince me that I is guilty? - Tom shouted loudly and dramatically jumped out of bed, his face was purple, his eyes were bloodshot, the veins on his neck swelled and began to throb. - And all because you find it easier to shift the blame on me, than to find the

She couldn’t quite bring herself to, but her shy little grin became a toothy smile. “I, uh, I think Tommy is uncomfortable.”

He did get a funny feeling inside every time Booker touched him, but he wasn’t convinced it was enough, at least not anymore. They had both experienced too much physical and psychological pain, the scars of which they would carry to their graves, and he wondered if being entwined in each other’s lives in both a physical and an emotional level could, in fact, be causing them more harm than

“Okay, man what's wrong? You've been acting really distant all day.” Rhett asked, genuinely concerned for his friend.

Carter sat across from me and leaned closer to my face. “Liar. I see the tears on your face.”

Tsuna could feel his face heating up from the sound of her voice. He fidgeted on his spot as his anxiety skyrocketed upon seeing Sasagawa Kyoko make her way towards him.

Tom’s overuse of the aforementioned substances had a huge impact on Tom’s sleep patterns. For example, as his exams drew nearer Tom commented on his reduced need for sleep. Soon after Tom finished his exams, he began to abuse drugs and alcohol. Tom’s drug abuse was coincided with feels of being “the man.” He spoke openly about feeling this was his “time.” Finishing on a seemingly strong note mixed with onset mania seems to have pushed Tom into a period of feeling invincible. He began erratically spending money, convinced his friend

"Juggie you okay?" you asked concern laced in you voice, his head shot up at the sound of your voice.

When the last Pi Tau exited the basement, the door slammed closed, and the room plunged into darkness. With his arms outstretched, Booker stumbled blindly across the room, his breath rasping painfully in his throat. “TOM!” he yelled. “TOM, WHERE ARE YOU?”