Pandemic Themes In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Daniel Scott Mrs. Hayes AP English 8 4 April 2024 Holding on to Let Go In the realm of pandemic literature, the narrative extends far beyond mere survival tactics. From the stark landscapes of zombie apocalypses to the ravages of the bubonic plague, these narratives serve as captivating explorations of humanity amidst crisis. In times of crisis, often riddled with corruption and greed, people long for the emotional connection they had with their past life before the pandemic, even though this is usually a trope in literature surrounded by negative connotations. A recurring theme in pandemic literature is the desire of characters to cling to remnants of their past. An example of this would be The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In The Great

A good example of remembering occurs in the passage “Night Surf” by Stephen King. In “Night Surf” King writes about the characters remembering the good times of what they used to have in their lives. To explain, “We came here in the summer, Maureen and I, the summer after high school, the summer before college and reality and A6 coming out of South-east Asia and covering the world like a pall” (King 5). Having characters be able to reminisce about how times used to be helps them comfort themselves. Clearly, their past lives are important to them and whichever pandemic they are going through gets rid of that past life. Similarly, characters in pandemic literature often find items during their journeys. Since characters are constantly having to explore their new world, it is clear why they would come across items that they may or may not need for their journey to be successful. A frequent event scene in almost all pandemic literature is characters finding an item that either belongs to them or to a part of their past life that they remember. “‘Got a cigarette, Bernie?’ Needles asked.I gave him a smoke and sat down” (King

Here it can be seen that even though the young boys might be considered “trouble” by some, they are still young boys trying to traverse a harsh world riddled with plague. Bonding and building people up can help uplift people, again serving as a coping mechanism and an easy way to help think of the good times. It can again be shown that trying to reminisce about their past lives, is something that they can rely on. In essence, a pandemic is a cruel culmination of all things evil and corrupt. Pandemic literature is here to warn readers of the dangers of society, but it also teaches lessons about how society shouldn’t take what we have for granted. Bonding, surviving, and remembering help characters try to repair what they once had with their old self. Clearly, it is impossible for characters to truly gain what they once had, but even the small thoughts of their old self gives them hope for the future of their new society. Even though literature has warned society of the dangers of holding onto the past, it is clear that holding on is crucial to their