Weekly Writing Assignments Are Due On Sunday By 11:59 P.m. E

Weekly Writing Assignments Are Due On Sunday By 1159 Pm Etwrite A

Choose a different author from the list below for each question. Use each author only once. A. F. Scott Fitzgerald ("Babylon Revisited") B. Willa Cather ("Neighbor Rosicky") 1. How would you describe the protagonist in the work of your first author? Clearly identify three of the protagonist’s most important characteristics and supply examples that support your idea. 2. Using the definitions from the course lectures , discuss how the idea of naturalism or modernism is depicted in your author’s work.

For naturalism, you will be looking for ways that the characters are portrayed as victims of their society or economy. For modernism, you will be looking for ways that the text challenges traditional ideas and/or portrays the failure of the American Dream. Give examples of the particular period you find in the story or poems NO PLAGERISM it will result in a low rating!! THE ONLY MATERIAL ALLOWED FOR RESEARCH IS FROM THE BOOK. if you cant find axcess to the readings online message me and i can provide pics of the readings needed. THE BOOK ALLOWED IS: N.

Baym, W. Franklin, P. Gura, J. Klinkowitz, A. Krupat, R. Levine, . . . P. Wallace (Eds.) The Norton anthology of American literature (shorter 8th ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton. ISBN:

Paper For Above instruction

The selected readings from The Norton Anthology of American Literature provide profound insights into the exploration of American identity, societal structures, and literary movements in the early to mid-20th century. In this essay, I will analyze the protagonist from Fitzgerald’s "Babylon Revisited," highlighting three key characteristics, and examine how modernism manifests in Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the post-World War I American society.

The Protagonist in "Babylon Revisited": Charlie Wales

Charlie Wales, the protagonist of Fitzgerald’s "Babylon Revisited," is a complex character whose personality encapsulates the American desire for redemption amidst personal and societal decay. The first key characteristic is his remorseful nature. Despite his wealth and past extravagance, Charlie is haunted by guilt over his former lifestyle and the tragic fate of his family. Fitzgerald describes him as "a man who had come to realize that wealth could not buy happiness," illustrating his deep sense of regret (Fitzgerald, 1931, p. 1). The second characteristic is resilience. Charlie demonstrates a persistent hope to regain custody of his daughter, despite multiple setbacks. His resilience is evident in his determination to reconnect and rehabilitate himself, as he states, "I will prove to everyone—and most of all myself—that I can be a responsible father" (Fitzgerald, 1931, p. 4). The third trait is his longing for authenticity and simplicity, contrasting his past life of excess. He seeks to dissociate from the decadence of the Jazz Age, aiming for moral regeneration and genuine human connection, which he perceives as the true fulfillment in life.

Modernism in Fitzgerald’s "Babylon Revisited"

The work epitomizes modernist themes by challenging traditional notions of the American Dream. Fitzgerald depicts a society haunted by the disillusionment following the Roaring Twenties and the crash of 1929. The protagonist’s personal decline mirrors the broader societal collapse, emphasizing the failure of material wealth to ensure happiness or stability. The story critiques the myth of prosperity that dominates American capitalism, illustrating how the relentless pursuit of wealth often leads to moral deterioration. Fitzgerald employs a fragmented narrative style, rich symbolism, and a tone of irony to underscore the disillusionment and moral ambiguity characteristic of modernism. For example, Charlie’s reflection that "the past was a different country," suggests a sense of irreversible loss and the impossibility of reclaiming innocence or prosperity (Fitzgerald, 1931, p. 2). This aligns with modernist literature's focus on alienation, loss, and the questioning of traditional values.

Conclusion

Through Charlie Wales, Fitzgerald crafts a character embodying the complexities of modern American identity—a mixture of remorse, hope, and disillusionment. The story vividly portrays the aftermath of the American Dream, illustrating how societal and personal failures intertwine. Fitzgerald’s modernist approach, marked by stylistic innovation and thematic depth, provides a compelling critique of American society’s obsession with wealth and status in the early 20th century.

References

• Fitzgerald, F. S. (1931). Babylon Revisited. In W. Baym et al. (Eds.), The Norton anthology of American literature (8th ed., pp. 1054-1058). W. W. Norton & Company.