F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were American writers of the 20th century with different trademarks in their writing styles such as unadorned prose or using a plethora of adjectives to create a vivid image. Even with the different styles, their stories had similar points of view with the shaping of similar characters. Through The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway, the theme of isolation and struggle to deal with despair are conveyed through the passing of time, the understanding of defeat, and the keeping of the company of others.
Throughout The Great Gatsby, the reality of isolation and the loom of loneliness in the air consumes the lives of the majority of the characters. One …show more content…
In order to deal with despair and the feeling of loneliness, the characters try to surround themselves around strangers and try other methods. The old man sits in the cafe for hours and tried to kill himself, while Gatsby throws posh parties at his enormous mansion. In addition, since both these characters have an abundant amount of money and live a materialistic life, it’s the need for a purpose to live that leads them to depressed. Everything Gatsby did and earned was to make an impression on Daisy and let her know that he was sufficiently wealthy to take care of her. On the other hand, the old man has no purpose due to him having no wife, being deaf, and only having a niece who cares about him. The younger waiter in Hemingway's story, frustrated that the old man won't go home, defines himself and the old man as opposites: “He’s lonely. I’m not lonely.” Loneliness, for the younger waiter, is a key difference between them. However, he does not consider that he may be lonely someday too. On the other hand, although the older waiter does not explicitly state he lonely, is similar to the old man in his habit of sitting in cafes late at night leads us to assume he too feels alone. Furthermore, the parties in The Great Gatsby symbolize confusion, chaos, and darkness, which is what Gatsby needs to clear his mind. The cafe represents the opposite since it suggests clarity and order, thus serving as a “refuge” from despair and nothingness. Lastly, at the end of both stories, each character ends up the same; alone. Daisy leaves for Tom, leaving Gatsby all by himself again and the old man goes home to sleep alone at night as does the older waiter. Both characters understand they have been defeated by life and will only get through by finding ways to deal with the emptiness and hopelessness they