Classical Literature Journals: A Deep Dive into Four Novels

This assignment presents four student journals offering critical analyses of classic literature. The first journal examines F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby,' focusing on themes of the American Dream, corruption, and Gatsby's unrequited love for Daisy. The second journal delves into Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice,' exploring themes of marriage, societal expectations, and the role of women in 18th-century England, highlighting Elizabeth Bennet's modern perspective. The third journal analyzes Virginia Woolf's 'To the Lighthouse,' emphasizing the use of stream of consciousness and philosophical introspection on the meaning of life. Finally, the fourth journal discusses Charles Dickens' 'Hard Times,' examining social injustices, the plight of the working class, and the importance of doing good. Each journal provides insightful commentary on the novels' key themes and literary techniques.

Running head: CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Classical Literature
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Journal 1: “The Great Gatsby”
I think that “The Great Gatsby” of F. Scott Fitzgerald is not only one of the popular
novels not only of the American Literature but also of the world. The novel in my view
intends to give an overview of The Great American and its subsequent corruption. The novel
revolves round the central character Gatsby and his requited love for Daisy Miller. I believe
that all the actions of Gatsby are directed towards gaining back the love and the affection of
Daisy. The most important lines of the novel are “So we beat on, boats against the current,
borne back ceaselessly into the past”. This particular line of the novel is articulated by the
narrator of the novel Nick who seeing the passion of Gatsby for the tinsel Goddess and the
ultimate fate with which the love for his tinsel Goddess meets with.
I think that the novel not only tries to show the corruption of The American Dream
but also it tries to portray the overarching condition of the human beings in the present day
scenario. In the present day world the human beings are the victims of the modern tragedy
and therefore they cannot achieve the things which their heart most desires. Therefore, in the
novel the character Gatsby inspite of doing all the hard work and even sacrificing his life for
the idea in which he believes in cannot achieve the one thing for which he has worked his
entire, that is, the love and the affection of Daisy. Therefore, it can be said that in the present
day world the human beings are only offered a glimpse of the things which their heart most
desires but they cantor achieve the thing which their heart most desires. It is a reflection of
this that all his life Gatsby works for the achievement of the thing which his desires the most
and even though it comes within the finger tips of his hands yet he cannot achieve it. Thus, I
think that the novel more than any other novel of the period tries to show this particular
nature of the modern world through the unrequited love of the central character of the novel
Gatsby for his tinsel Goddess Daisy. The above quoted line Nick the narrator of the novel are

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a reflection of this particular fact and in a way the line seeks to give an overview of the entire
theme of the novel. Thus, the narrator of the novel Nick says that we human beings
constantly fluctuate between our past and present lives and our present lives are like a
reflection of the past events of our lives. It is significant to note that this particular line of
Nick can be seen in the particular context of Dante’s “Divina Commedia” where he says that
the human beings are like the ghosts of the Inferno who have no past and no future but only
eternal present in which they need to struggle into. The life as well as the career of Gatsby
when viewed in this particular light reveals useful insights which are relevant for all times
and all ages.
Journal 2: Pride and Prejudice
The novel “Pride and Prejudice” of Jane Austen is often considered to be one of the
classics not only of the genre of women writing in English but also of the World Literature
itself. The entire novel revolves round the theme of marriage which formed an important part
of the 18th century England. The novel at the same time tries to show the condition of the 18th
century women who were taught that the most important thing in their lives is marriage and
thus from an early age they are provided training for how to be a good wife. The most
significant lines of the novel are its opening line where the authors declare that “It is a truth
universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want
of a wife”. It is significant to note that the entire novel revolves round this particular concept.
The mother of the central character of the novel Elizabeth is a very conservative and thinks
that the sole ambition of a girl or a lady should be to marry a rich gentleman. However, the
protagonist of the novel Elizabeth holds different views and believes in the fact that the most
important thing in a marriage should be love and not wealth.

3CLASSICAL LITERATURE
I think that in this particular novel and through the above quoted remarks Jane Austen
tries to show the condition of the women fraternity in the 18th century and at the same time
tries to work towards the improvement of their lot through this particular novel. It is
significant to note that Austen through the character of Elizabeth tries to represent a modern
woman who has the necessary strength to stand up to the subversion of the male dominated
society of the 18th century England. Therefore, I believe that this particular novel of Jane
Austen is a pertinent critique of the 18th century England and seeks to show the prejudices of
the society of England at that particular point of time. The above quoted lines of the novel
also hints towards the same idea. It is a reflection of this that throughout the novel the
protagonist of the novel Elizabeth instead of focusing on the concept of wealth focuses on the
concept of love within a marriage. It is significant to note that this viewpoint of Elizabeth
finds adequate support in the opinion as well as the views of her father Mr. Bennett. I
personally believe that the protagonist of the novel Elizabeth is a lady whose does not
belongs to the 18th century England rather she is a lady who belongs to the 21st century
because of the modern views as well as the values with which the author imbues her with. It
is a reflection of this particular fact that this particular character of Jane Austen stands with
some of the most powerful women characters of World Literature of all times.
Journal 3: “To the lighthouse”
I personally believe that “To the lighthouse” is one of the most important works of the
20th century and it completely changed the landscape of the World Literature with its
innovative use of the technique of the “stream of consciousness”. The entire focus of the
novel is on the Ramsay family and their visit to the “Isle of Skye” which is located in the
nation of Scotland in the years 1910 and 1920. I personally believe that the novel belongs to
the genre of philosophical introspection and effectively uses the various modernist techniques

4CLASSICAL LITERATURE
developed by the various stalwarts of World Literature like Proust, Joyce and others. The
most important lines of the novel in my personal opinion are “What is the meaning of life?
That was all- a simple question; one that tended to close in on one with years, the great
revelation had never come. The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were
little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark; here was one”.
I personally believe that the novel is a philosophical one and tries to explore the true
meaning of life. Thus, with this particular purpose the novelist uses the technique of the
“stream of consciousness” to explore the two journeys of the Ramsay family to the “Isle of
Skye” and the changes which their lives have undergone since the first journey which they
undertook. It is significant to note that the above quoted lines are the entire fulcrum of the
novel and it is around this particular question that the entire novel revolves. The novel in the
true sense of the term seeks to explore this particular philosophical question and tries to
answer it through the life of the Ramsay family.
Journal 4: Hard Times
I personally believe that the novel Hard Times is one of the masterpieces not only of
the famous British author Charles Dickens but also of the world. The novel not only has
literary value but social value as well and it is a reflection of this that after the release of the
novel many legislations were passed which sought to improve the living conditions of the
people of the nation of England who belonged to the poorer sections. It is significant to note
that most of the characters, who are described in the novel belong to the poorer section of the
society of the nation. The most important line of the novel is “Do the wise thing and the kind
thing too, and make the best of us and not the worst”.
I believe that the entire novel revolves round this particular line of the novel and
intends to describe the helpless state of the poorer section of the society of England.

5CLASSICAL LITERATURE
However, the entire focus of the author Dickens in this particular novel can be said to be the
fact that inspite of all the hardships which the poorer sections of the society of England face
but the entire focus of their lives is to do the maximum amount of good to the majority of the
people of the society. It is significant to note that inspite of the injustices to which the various
individuals who belong to the poorer sections of the nation of England are subjected to they
are not motivated by the revenge factor unlike the other people of the nation. Furthermore,
the author also tells the various individuals that as human beings our sole purpose in life
should be to do the things which are likely to cause the maximum amount of good to the
other people. It because of the way that the poorer sections of the society of the nation are
portrayed that the novel was instrumental in making the government of the nation think about
the poorer sections of the society and implement the necessary legislations which were likely
to help them in a significant way.