A Psychoanalytic Study Of Gatsby And Dick's Narcissism

The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night are the two excellent novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald, the representative writer of the American "Lost Generation". In spite of the differences between them, the two books nevertheless have a lot in common. For a long time critics have paid great attention to the similarities in themes and emotional depths between the two novels. But the resemblances between the two heroes, namely, Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver, although equally conspicuous, did not receive adequate critical attention. Both are penniless soldiers and both fall in love with beautiful, charming and wealthy "Fairy Princesses" Daisy and Nicole. Having exhausted every means, Gatsby and Dick seemingly win their love for a while, but the "Fairy Princesses" mercilessly abandon them and make them victims or even scapegoats in the end. The similarities of the deception and failure they experience led the author of this thesis to look at the characters from the perspective of psychoanalysis and was finally convinced that pathological narcissism is one of the roots of their tragedies.While materials on the themes and craftsmanship of the two novels are highly available, comments from the perspective of psychoanalysis are very limited. Although a number of critics have mentioned or suggested Gatsby or Dick's narcissism in their essays, only a few of them make close and detailed analysis of their narcissistic traits in essays. However it was the message in these essays that attracted and enlightened me and led me finally to decide to take up the topic for my MA thesis.In The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night, we can find strong evidence to prove that both Gatsby and Dick are pathological narcissists, who mainly exhibit the following three narcissistic traits: Firstly, both heroes idealize themselves to an unbelievable degree. Secondly, they bear too many illusions about love and their lovers. And thirdly, they have too strong a desire for love and admiration. These narcissistic traits eventually bring about disastrous consequences to the two victims: excessive self-idealization makes them fail to notice their own limitations; illusions about love and their lovers trap them in love with the unworthy lovers. Lastly, strong desire for love and admiration drains them of all their energy or even life.