earticle

영어

The purpose of this paper is to identify the aspects of tragic affirmation in The Great Gatsby and The Old Man and the Sea nd to compare them. Both Gatsby and Santiago seem to be foolish in terms of modern capitalism of pursuing material success. But it is certain that their doings have an affirmative effect through tragedy. Gatsby in The Great Gatsby resulted in the tragic death from his tragic flaw. But Nick, reliable narrator, said to Gatsby “You ’re worth the whole damn bunch put together” because of his extraordinary gift for romantic dream. We can find that Gatsby’s tragedy carries an tragic affirmation. Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea brings in a bare skeleton of the Marlin because of sharks’ attack. Although he told the boy that “They(sharks) beat me”, his three days’ journey is something important that shows the boy(readers) the old man’s greatness. Santiago faces adversity with dignity and grace. He also had a cosmic vision through harmonious relationship between man and nature. In view of his doings the old man’s tragedy carries not external success but inner success. Finally, we can find the paradox of tragic affirmation in both Gatsby and Santiago. Thus, the success of the two novels lies in paradoxical narrative of tragic affirmation.