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TOPIC: The Theme of Money in Tender is the Night
F.S. Fitzgerald represents in his novel Tender is the Night important themes which are related to the changes that accured specially in the Roaring twenties. Money is one of the major themes that Fitzgerald permeates in the novel as a cultural context in the 1920s, as related to characters and as an influential theme in the plot.
First of all, the theme of money mirrors the major features of the 1920s; a period which is characterized by many changes in the way people think, feel, and behave. In fact, Fitzgerald is fascinated with the display of wealth. In Tender is the Night, he reflects how people started to become more interested in wealth and fame as well as the impact of capitalism in societies; people are transformed into machines of consumption and this is clearly shown when Nicole and Rosemary go to shopping. Fitzgerald presents Nicole as an example of those people. When shopping, she buys everything she likes even if she does not need it. Besides, people’ interest is to have money and spend it quickly. The Divers, for example, travel extravagantly since money is plentiful so that they attract attention as if they are a royal family.
Moreover, regardless of its cultural context, money, as a major theme, defines the characters since it influences their lives. Fitzgerald shows how money is powerful because it can transform the identity of the person as well as his life. The protagonist Dick Diver, as an example, knows a whole change in his life from an expert doctor to an idle capitalist businessman; he collects money so that he becomes addicted to it. Fitzgerald portrays Dick as one of the idle class who collect money easily and spend it easily. In deed, once one becomes an idle person, he no longer knows the value of saving money, but when he discovers this truth, it is too late as the case of Dick Diver who, because of money, dwindles down and looses everything. Nicole is an other example which shows how money can make people. Her money acts as a security blanked for her. Thanks to her money, she begins to feel independent from her husband Dick, especially at the end of the novel when she no longer needs him.
Furthermore, apart from being influential in characters’ lives and personalities, the theme of money is also influential in the plot. In deed, it affects the characters as well as the events. At the beginning, for example, Nicole accepts to marry Dick although he is from the middle class thinking that money does not represent a matter. But when she accepts her family’ money, her life changes: she and her husband have a comfortable life; they have a beautiful house, and travel all over the world. This influence the plot since they know new people such as Rosemary whose relationship with Dick influences the events and leads Dick to discover his problem with Nicole and her money; he feels that she is no longer in need for him and this contributes to his collapse and to the failure of their marriage.
In conclusion, the theme of money is very important since, through reflecting the booming years of the 1920s and affecting both characters and the plot; it directs the other themes and mainly the American’ s consumerism, love, and illness.
Life is Beautiful
TOPIC: The Theme of Money in Tender is the Night
F.S. Fitzgerald represents in his novel Tender is the Night important themes which are related to the changes that accured specially in the Roaring twenties. Money is one of the major themes that Fitzgerald permeates in the novel as a cultural context in the 1920s, as related to characters and as an influential theme in the plot.
First of all, the theme of money mirrors the major features of the 1920s; a period which is characterized by many changes in the way people think, feel, and behave. In fact, Fitzgerald is fascinated with the display of wealth. In Tender is the Night, he reflects how people started to become more interested in wealth and fame as well as the impact of capitalism in societies; people are transformed into machines of consumption and this is clearly shown when Nicole and Rosemary go to shopping. Fitzgerald presents Nicole as an example of those people. When shopping, she buys everything she likes even if she does not need it. Besides, people’ interest is to have money and spend it quickly. The Divers, for example, travel extravagantly since money is plentiful so that they attract attention as if they are a royal family.
Moreover, regardless of its cultural context, money, as a major theme, defines the characters since it influences their lives. Fitzgerald shows how money is powerful because it can transform the identity of the person as well as his life. The protagonist Dick Diver, as an example, knows a whole change in his life from an expert doctor to an idle capitalist businessman; he collects money so that he becomes addicted to it. Fitzgerald portrays Dick as one of the idle class who collect money easily and spend it easily. In deed, once one becomes an idle person, he no longer knows the value of saving money, but when he discovers this truth, it is too late as the case of Dick Diver who, because of money, dwindles down and looses everything. Nicole is an other example which shows how money can make people. Her money acts as a security blanked for her. Thanks to her money, she begins to feel independent from her husband Dick, especially at the end of the novel when she no longer needs him.
Furthermore, apart from being influential in characters’ lives and personalities, the theme of money is also influential in the plot. In deed, it affects the characters as well as the events. At the beginning, for example, Nicole accepts to marry Dick although he is from the middle class thinking that money does not represent a matter. But when she accepts her family’ money, her life changes: she and her husband have a comfortable life; they have a beautiful house, and travel all over the world. This influence the plot since they know new people such as Rosemary whose relationship with Dick influences the events and leads Dick to discover his problem with Nicole and her money; he feels that she is no longer in need for him and this contributes to his collapse and to the failure of their marriage.
In conclusion, the theme of money is very important since, through reflecting the booming years of the 1920s and affecting both characters and the plot; it directs the other themes and mainly the American’ s consumerism, love, and illness.
Life is Beautiful