Post by caseyr7 on Apr 4, 2008 18:58:38 GMT -5
The Scrape of Escape: The Dysfunctional Family Dynamic of the 20th Century
Any society can be exposed through art that comes from the public within. Throughout history, literature has been able to convey truths about the society from which it springs. A particular aspect evident in literature, which is greatly influenced by the outside world, is the relationships between individuals, specifically those of family members. American literature of the 20th century, including The Great Gatsby, Fences, and Death of a Salesman mirrors the families of that time period. Previous images of wholesome nuclear families are broken in literature with Troy’s family in Fences, Willy’s in Death of a Salesman, and Tom and Daisy’s in The Great Gatsby. Each family has its own similar dysfunctions where members long for escape from reality, and selfishness tears families apart. American literature of the 20th century revealed the dysfunctional families of society, where traditional wholeness of families is shattered through selfish longings of members to escape the sad reality they see in their lives.
The selfish desires of characters in literature, and their acts upon them, break the unity of the American family and mirror the dysfunction within such families. the desires focused on in novels and plays are predominantly the affairs each family experiences. Troy begins his affair with Alberta in hopes of getting away from his responsibilities at home. His marriage with Rose is crushed, and disrespect in his already tense relationship with his son, Cory, grows. Alberta dies during the birth of their child, giving Troy even more responsibility than he had imagined, worsening the conditions of his family. Willy’s family suffers from his affair as well; his son Biff’s reverence for him extinguishes upon the discovery of Willy’s committed adultery in New England on his business trip. Though his wife remains oblivious, Biff’s spirit dies along with Willy’s success, and the demoralized family begins to live through lies. The family of Daisy and Tom prove to be dysfunctional as well, through their unhappiness and Tom’s affair. Because of Tom’s selfish actions, Daisy becomes cynical and wishes her daughter to be a beautiful fool so she is able to live in ignorant bliss. The disunity of these families conveyed in literature show the common depreciation of morale in American society, which leads to an attempt of individuals to escape their lives.
Due to the perceived sad reality of their lives, members of families in 20th century literature resort to escapism to deal with their problems, such as affairs, crushing family wholesomeness. In The Great Gatsby, Nick conveys a depressed society that escapes through alcohol. The lavish parties that are thrown by all social classes, where the guests drink themselves to oblivion, help in this escape. Tom also uses his affair as a way to escape, through entering another world and leaving Daisy. Troy also does this in Fences, where he escapes his responsibilities while with Alberta. His wife, Rose, tries to keep him in the family, represented by the fence, but his self-perceived misfortunes in his life propel him to go looking for more, ruining his traditional American family. Willy Loman also creates a world of his own, as Troy and Tom do, to escape from his miserable reality. He lies to not only those around him, but himself as well, to continue his dream and cloud his evident failure. Willy revisits the past and looks to a deceitful future to escape from the present. His family suffers from his ways, specifically from his low income of money, convincing but absurd rationale, and eventual suicide which provokes confusion and depression in his wife. The unhealthy idea of needed escapism within certain family members in literature mirrors how dysfunctional American families of the 20th century essentially were.
The families of the 20th century in America evidently lived an unhealthy lifestyle, which is shown through literature such as The Great Gatsby, Fences, and Death of a Salesman. The use of selfish escapism by certain members of the family diminishes unity and wholesomeness within, similar to the demoralization of families of today. Though the modern 21st century seems to have more potential for the success of families, affairs still exist, especially in higher classes with people of power. Some still use escapism to forget their depression with marriage and family, turning to alcoholism like those in The Great Gatsby. The dysfunction within families persists as always, but with exceptions. Not all are unhappy with their lives and families, and not all who grow up in bad family situations will continue the trend.
Any society can be exposed through art that comes from the public within. Throughout history, literature has been able to convey truths about the society from which it springs. A particular aspect evident in literature, which is greatly influenced by the outside world, is the relationships between individuals, specifically those of family members. American literature of the 20th century, including The Great Gatsby, Fences, and Death of a Salesman mirrors the families of that time period. Previous images of wholesome nuclear families are broken in literature with Troy’s family in Fences, Willy’s in Death of a Salesman, and Tom and Daisy’s in The Great Gatsby. Each family has its own similar dysfunctions where members long for escape from reality, and selfishness tears families apart. American literature of the 20th century revealed the dysfunctional families of society, where traditional wholeness of families is shattered through selfish longings of members to escape the sad reality they see in their lives.
The selfish desires of characters in literature, and their acts upon them, break the unity of the American family and mirror the dysfunction within such families. the desires focused on in novels and plays are predominantly the affairs each family experiences. Troy begins his affair with Alberta in hopes of getting away from his responsibilities at home. His marriage with Rose is crushed, and disrespect in his already tense relationship with his son, Cory, grows. Alberta dies during the birth of their child, giving Troy even more responsibility than he had imagined, worsening the conditions of his family. Willy’s family suffers from his affair as well; his son Biff’s reverence for him extinguishes upon the discovery of Willy’s committed adultery in New England on his business trip. Though his wife remains oblivious, Biff’s spirit dies along with Willy’s success, and the demoralized family begins to live through lies. The family of Daisy and Tom prove to be dysfunctional as well, through their unhappiness and Tom’s affair. Because of Tom’s selfish actions, Daisy becomes cynical and wishes her daughter to be a beautiful fool so she is able to live in ignorant bliss. The disunity of these families conveyed in literature show the common depreciation of morale in American society, which leads to an attempt of individuals to escape their lives.
Due to the perceived sad reality of their lives, members of families in 20th century literature resort to escapism to deal with their problems, such as affairs, crushing family wholesomeness. In The Great Gatsby, Nick conveys a depressed society that escapes through alcohol. The lavish parties that are thrown by all social classes, where the guests drink themselves to oblivion, help in this escape. Tom also uses his affair as a way to escape, through entering another world and leaving Daisy. Troy also does this in Fences, where he escapes his responsibilities while with Alberta. His wife, Rose, tries to keep him in the family, represented by the fence, but his self-perceived misfortunes in his life propel him to go looking for more, ruining his traditional American family. Willy Loman also creates a world of his own, as Troy and Tom do, to escape from his miserable reality. He lies to not only those around him, but himself as well, to continue his dream and cloud his evident failure. Willy revisits the past and looks to a deceitful future to escape from the present. His family suffers from his ways, specifically from his low income of money, convincing but absurd rationale, and eventual suicide which provokes confusion and depression in his wife. The unhealthy idea of needed escapism within certain family members in literature mirrors how dysfunctional American families of the 20th century essentially were.
The families of the 20th century in America evidently lived an unhealthy lifestyle, which is shown through literature such as The Great Gatsby, Fences, and Death of a Salesman. The use of selfish escapism by certain members of the family diminishes unity and wholesomeness within, similar to the demoralization of families of today. Though the modern 21st century seems to have more potential for the success of families, affairs still exist, especially in higher classes with people of power. Some still use escapism to forget their depression with marriage and family, turning to alcoholism like those in The Great Gatsby. The dysfunction within families persists as always, but with exceptions. Not all are unhappy with their lives and families, and not all who grow up in bad family situations will continue the trend.