The Modernist Features Of Tender Is The Night

Since Scott Fitzgerald had his novel Tender is the Night published in 1934, it has encountered many unfavorable criticisms. The themes are regarded dated to its time of publication. Its unchronological structure is most severely attacked, for it makes readers difficult to understand.But through careful study, readers may discover that Tender is the Night is a novel full of modernist features. In its content, psychoanalysis is written in the novel. The inner psychological process is clearly presented to readers. The main characters are a psychiatrist Dickand a psychopath Nicole. Dick not only uses psychoanalysis but also write books to promote it. In the morbid society, psychological diseases are the reflections of social problems. Psychoanalysis is the means to analysise social problems and a way to solve the problems. In the narration, modernist themes are reflected. In the process of realising Dick抯 dream, the fierce conflict between idealism and reality, the corruptibility of money and the alienation of the Lost Generation in modem society are clearly revealed. Dick is well-educated. He has his own dream. He wants to be independent from others?wealth, but he is so weak to escape from the attraction of money. He begins to decay and finally disappears from the upper class. Baby and her class are indifferent. They treat everything as their property梬hen they need something, they buy it ; when they do not need, they abandon it. This alt i twle is even taken to man.In narrative technique, shift of time, multiple points of view, interior monologue with free association are well employed to foil the destruction of the Dick抯 ideal dream. The time &pan of the novel is from 1917 to 1929. The novel starts with the year 1925. Flashbacks, insertions, and some parts of chronological narration are employee in the construction of the novel. With the frequent change of time in the book, points of view in the book change as well. Stream ofiiiconsciousness is another typical modem narrative technique. It records characters?flowing of consciousness. This is a particular way of disclosing a psychological patient抯 inner world.This thesis analyses Tender is the Night in both the aspects of its content and its expressional forms to reach the conclusion that Tender is the Night is a typical modernist novel.