Theme of Cocktail Party in English Literature Novels
Added on 2023-04-11
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Running Head: ENGLISH LITERATURE
English literature
Student’s Name
University Name
Author’s Note
English literature
Student’s Name
University Name
Author’s Note
2
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Introduction
The following essay aims to discuss about the theme of cocktail party in the three
novels. The chosen novels are The Great Gatsby, To the Lighthouse and Passing. These novels
have depicted the society and how people in the society have behaved in different manners. The
different events in the society and societal hierarchy will be discussed in this essay.
Discussion
The theme of cocktail party is the central theme of all three novels, The Great Gatsby, To
the Lighthouse and Passing. The sophistication and presentation of high society aristocracy is
one of the most influential factors of this 1920 novel by Fitzgerald. The implication of this
cocktail party is to depict America as age of Prohibition had laid an influence on it. Through this
party, Fitzgerald has made a critique on the jazz age in USA (Buell: 34). The mention of ‘under a
constantly changing light’ has been one of the main aspects related to show of wealth. The
dominant color of the tableau in this cocktail party is yellow (Batchelor: 78). The Rolls Royce of
Gatsby has been shown as a face of royal wealth in the society. Therefore, it signifies that
cocktail party arranged in this novel only shows how affluent the members of this society were
and their rich lifestyle in this scenario (Buell: 34).
The novel To the Lighthouse is also a very crucial novel that has elaborated social
conditions and behaviors of the social hierarchy in different manners. In this novel, the aspect of
feminism has been described in this cocktail or dinner party scene. Apart from that the third
important context is party scene in the novel Passing by Nella Larsen (Gillespie: 89). This book
had been published in the year 1929. Some central issues and themes of this novel concerns with
race, class and sexuality. These things have been very evident in the novel and this opens up in a
ENGLISH LITERATURE
Introduction
The following essay aims to discuss about the theme of cocktail party in the three
novels. The chosen novels are The Great Gatsby, To the Lighthouse and Passing. These novels
have depicted the society and how people in the society have behaved in different manners. The
different events in the society and societal hierarchy will be discussed in this essay.
Discussion
The theme of cocktail party is the central theme of all three novels, The Great Gatsby, To
the Lighthouse and Passing. The sophistication and presentation of high society aristocracy is
one of the most influential factors of this 1920 novel by Fitzgerald. The implication of this
cocktail party is to depict America as age of Prohibition had laid an influence on it. Through this
party, Fitzgerald has made a critique on the jazz age in USA (Buell: 34). The mention of ‘under a
constantly changing light’ has been one of the main aspects related to show of wealth. The
dominant color of the tableau in this cocktail party is yellow (Batchelor: 78). The Rolls Royce of
Gatsby has been shown as a face of royal wealth in the society. Therefore, it signifies that
cocktail party arranged in this novel only shows how affluent the members of this society were
and their rich lifestyle in this scenario (Buell: 34).
The novel To the Lighthouse is also a very crucial novel that has elaborated social
conditions and behaviors of the social hierarchy in different manners. In this novel, the aspect of
feminism has been described in this cocktail or dinner party scene. Apart from that the third
important context is party scene in the novel Passing by Nella Larsen (Gillespie: 89). This book
had been published in the year 1929. Some central issues and themes of this novel concerns with
race, class and sexuality. These things have been very evident in the novel and this opens up in a
3
ENGLISH LITERATURE
broad manner while racial contexts have been very much crucial (Ferrer: 67). However, the
passing tradition of racial issues from traditional American natives and African American
ethnicities. There have been several themes in this novel and the representation of party has
been depicted in the novel as racial discriminations have been largely evident in this situation.
The social positions have been seen to be juxtaposed in this novel regarding different characters
like Irene, Gertrude and Clare (Haarsma and Catharina: 19). The interpretation of party is quite
different between Passing and the Great Gatsby. The interpretations are mainly based on the
social influences and racial contexts.
The pomp and show in the party scenes described by Fitzgerald evidently highlights that
there was the touch of exaggeration in every discourse. The food that was served in the party was
also “unimaginable”. This implies that there is an eccentric attempt to climb higher than normal.
The same gesture is also apparent when the hosts of ladies who start appearing for the party. The
strange ways in which their hairs are shorn shows that they want to portray their approach as
delegates. Keshmiri and Fahimeh, while critiquing the novel, states that the ladies are almost
dressed up, like they are appearing for a Halloween party. In this context, it requires mention that
the party has been used as an aperture to distinguish the realities of social classes. There had
been a class of women who boats of their aristocracy by showing off their riches as well as
exorbitant garments. However, in order to display their class, the group of women chose to wear
ostentatious clothes, excessive outfits and “shawls beyond the dreams of Castile”. However,
Fitzgerald makes it evident that no one in the party is actually concerned about the other. Their
personal needs and wants in life is all that matters to them. However, everyone present in the
party takes it up as their goal to showcase their best appearance before everyone.
This is why, the author describes:
ENGLISH LITERATURE
broad manner while racial contexts have been very much crucial (Ferrer: 67). However, the
passing tradition of racial issues from traditional American natives and African American
ethnicities. There have been several themes in this novel and the representation of party has
been depicted in the novel as racial discriminations have been largely evident in this situation.
The social positions have been seen to be juxtaposed in this novel regarding different characters
like Irene, Gertrude and Clare (Haarsma and Catharina: 19). The interpretation of party is quite
different between Passing and the Great Gatsby. The interpretations are mainly based on the
social influences and racial contexts.
The pomp and show in the party scenes described by Fitzgerald evidently highlights that
there was the touch of exaggeration in every discourse. The food that was served in the party was
also “unimaginable”. This implies that there is an eccentric attempt to climb higher than normal.
The same gesture is also apparent when the hosts of ladies who start appearing for the party. The
strange ways in which their hairs are shorn shows that they want to portray their approach as
delegates. Keshmiri and Fahimeh, while critiquing the novel, states that the ladies are almost
dressed up, like they are appearing for a Halloween party. In this context, it requires mention that
the party has been used as an aperture to distinguish the realities of social classes. There had
been a class of women who boats of their aristocracy by showing off their riches as well as
exorbitant garments. However, in order to display their class, the group of women chose to wear
ostentatious clothes, excessive outfits and “shawls beyond the dreams of Castile”. However,
Fitzgerald makes it evident that no one in the party is actually concerned about the other. Their
personal needs and wants in life is all that matters to them. However, everyone present in the
party takes it up as their goal to showcase their best appearance before everyone.
This is why, the author describes:
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