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Examples Of The Great Gatsby As A Christ Figure In American Literature

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Chapter fourteen of How to Read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster discusses Christ figures in American literature. Christ figures appear abundantly throughout American literature. A Christ figure reflects someone who has qualities similar to those of Christ, even though they may not be verbatim. Foster’s novel says, “No matter what your religious beliefs, to get the most out of your reading of American literatures, knowing something about the Old and New Testaments is essential” (125). Not everyone is a Christian or worships Christ. However,that does not mean one cannot read the Bible. Who Christ is and what he did within his lifetime and after his death is explained in the Bible. One must not agree with a text in order …show more content…

Scott Fitzgerald, the main character, Gatsby, figuratively represents Christ. When Nick, Gatsby’s neighbor, asks if Daisy was driving the car that struck and killed Myrtle,Gatsby responded with, “Yes, but of course I’ll say I was” (Fitzgerald 143). Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice so that his people could be forgiven. This is comparable to how Gatsby will take the blame to keep Daisy out of trouble. Gatsby gains nothing from taking the blame for Daisy and if convicted, he will face jail time or the death penalty for something that was not his fault, just as Christ did. Although it may not be directly stated, Fitzgerald was likely attempting to draw a parallel between Gatsby and …show more content…

In the story, John Proctor had nothing to do with all of the witchery going on within his town but when questioned about his involvement, he consistently answered “I did” and when questioned about seeing anyone else involved, he replied with, “I did not” (Pearson 1229-1230). Proctor gives a false confession in order to protect the girls of the town. Ultimately, Proctor was hung for his confession and the girls were set free. This is similar to how Christ was hung on the cross to protect his people from their sins. Neither Christ nor Proctor had to do so, but they sacrificed themselves in order to protect others. Again, it is not directly stated that Proctor is a representation of Christ, but if one has at least a basic understanding of Christ and what he did, the parallel between the two can be

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In The Crucible, John Proctor takes the role of a Colonial wheat farmer for Salem Village. He, easily comparable to every other respected American at the time, was a righteous, God-fearing man that wanted nothing, but a new start to their lives outside of the control of King William III of England and his influences. But unlike the horde, Proctor did not believe that witches had possibly squirmed their way into Salem Village. In fact, he knew that they hadn’t made their way into the Village. This was because he knew the reason that it all started, a teenage girl named, Abigail, her undying love for him and and her extreme resentment of his wife, Elizabeth Proctor.

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622 Words | 3 Pages

In literature Christ figures are often used literary technique. A Christ figure is a martyr who sacrifices themselves for the betterment of those around him. In the novels A Separate Peace, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and the movie Cool Hand Luke, Phineas, Mcmurphy, and Luke are all prime examples of Christ figures. The novel A Separate Peace follows the story of best friends, Gene and Phineas.

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362 Words | 2 Pages

When people are accused of a crime they didn’t commit, it often has lasting effects on them and their loved ones. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, he explores the Salem Witch trials with characters that are accused of a crime they clearly didn’t commit, and are sent to their death. In a similar fashion, the five adolescents who were accused and found guilty of a heinous crime in New York City were ultimately found innocent after they served years and had eliminated a chance of restoring their youth. In the Central Park Five court case that occurred in New York City during the late 1980’s, the idea that a hero is someone valiant is proven by Antron Mccray. In the play, the Crucible by Arthur Miller, it displays that a hero is honest based on

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639 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the Salem Witch Trials John Proctor never accepts the lies of the people, he sees through the fear and tries to convince the people that they are making an error. Proctor maintains a rock-solid belief during the entire story, and his beliefs do not change, however his attitude toward the people in Salem does change as the trials grow in size. It’s the fact that Proctors perpendicular beliefs leading to his death that make him a tragic hero and a martyr, since his final refusal to accept the lies send him to the rope. Proctors changes throughout the story also cause the people of the village to look down on him after outbursts of rage.

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139 Words | 1 Pages

There are many biblical references (besides Jay Gatsby as a Christ-like figure)in The Great Gatsby. According to Thomas Foster, author of How To Read LiteratureLike a Professor, a biblical reference is “The characters all see four white men fromslave country riding up the road.” This quout he gave connects with daisy’s, “Whowants to go to town? Demanded Daisy.” (page 125) Daisy, Jay, Tom, Nick, and Jordanall road to town together on the hot summer day.

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710 Words | 3 Pages

All through the ages, the Christ figure archetype has appeared in literature and film. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry gives himself to Voldemort purposefully sacrificing himself for the benefit of the Wizarding World. In doing this he becomes the “Savior” and functions as a Christ figure in the novel. The Christ figure also emerges in real life, as anyone who acts as a role model and demonstrates moral fiber at an enormous cost to him or herself. In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Helen Burns serves as a Christ figure in the novel and her fundamental role is to illustrate and reveal the pivotal Christian belief of forgiveness to Jane.

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672 Words | 3 Pages

John Proctor, among a few other characters, is willing to die to keep the reputation of his name. In the beginning of the play, Proctor is constantly struggling with the weight of his sin and the fact of revealing his transgression to the public torments him. However, when his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, is accused of witchery and is being tried, he voluntarily sacrifices his name to protect her (3.110). Even though he gives his reputation up by acknowledging his affair with Abigail, he also preserves his integrity by being honest for the life of his wife. Another example is seen towards the end of the play when Proctor is given a second opportunity to confess to the court of committing witchcraft to save himself, but instead, he refuses to “lie and sign [himself] to lies” (4.143).

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After Proctor gives his confession and refutes it, he “tears the paper and crumples it” (144). Because of this action, Proctor’s fails to live up to his once good name in the eyes of the community, and will forever be in remembrance for being a witch because of the path of action he has taken. John Proctor’s actions conveys to the reader the necessity of a virtuous character. Before denying his confession, Proctor pleads with the court that, "[he] [has] given [them his] soul; leave [him his] name"(144)(IV.281-294). In Salem, there was no such thing of private immorality, so when John's testimony is threatened, he beseech that the court not confess his transgressions publicly because reputation is of importance in this town.

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Proctor motivates to learn how the truth can still not matter if it is not what the court wants to hear causing people to be killed and put in jail. John Proctor chooses to try to hide the affair between him and Abigail Williams , which causes half of the town of Salem going to jail for witchcraft. John is talking to Mary Warren when she is talking to him about the Devil being in Salem and they must find where he is:"I

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1352 Words | 6 Pages

Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses allusions to portray Gatsby as a representative of the “American Dream” and to foreshadow the eventual collapse of the relationship between Daisy and Tom, which, in turn, presents Gatsby’s desire

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785 Words | 4 Pages

In "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, we see the

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A man of conscience is one who is aware of his moral and ethical beliefs and judgments and one who will prefer right over wrong. The life of such man is ruled by the desire to seek the truth and justice in all that surrounds him, including himself. These attributes are seen in both character, John Proctor from Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible”, set in Salem in the early seventeenth century and in Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” set in New York in 1950. In the play “The Crucible” set in the town of Salem which is burdened by the belief of witches, we are introduced to the main character John Proctor.

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716 Words | 3 Pages

He jails and sentences many to death for refusing to ‘admit’ that they were witches. He encourages Proctor to sign the testimony even though he knows it is a lie shows how truly bad he is as he says ‘Come then, sign your testimony’ Protagonist: John Proctor he’s a protagonist is related to Proctor 's choice to take a high moral ground at the end and die rather than lying to save himself—this shows a change of character in Proctor. Proctor is a tragic hero, and a decent man. He confesses to committing adultery and says ‘I lie and sign myself to lies!...

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705 Words | 3 Pages

John Proctor was a man of honor and had a well respected name in the town of Salem. Sadly he died tragically but as a hero. He was hanged because he was accused of doing the devil’s work. He was given the chance to save his life if he admitted on a piece of paper that he was working with the devil but he refused to tell that lie. He wanted his sons to be able to walk the streets without being shunned from the world because they deserved better.

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566 Words | 3 Pages

In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor was accused of witchcraft. John Proctor was a man of great integrity and knew he did nothing wrong. He was given the choice to confess and lie or be hung. Being the honest and stubborn man that he was, he decided his name was more important than his life. John struggled both internally and with others while trying to fight for what he thought was right.

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