Dichotomy Of Human Existence In The Great Gatsby By Henry James

The dichotomy of birth and death characterizes human existence. Life is the collection of experiences amassed between the moment of birth and the moment of death. It is a blip of existence determined by the temporal and spatial intersection of fate. To be alive is to change, but this change also precipitates nonexistence; from the initiation of existence, life is a series of gradual changes leading to the ultimate change of death. This human theme of impermanence is reflected not only in human life but also in human created systems such as society, culture, or knowledge – empires and nations rise and fall, culture evolves, knowledge is replaced. As humans, we spend our lives in subconscious existential crisis, trying to understand the meaning of existence
The second half of the novel is set amidst the storied ruins of the fallen Roman Empire. The contrasting interplay between James’ descriptions of Rome, and the narrative focus on Daisy highlights her innocence and foreshadows her fall from innocence. Ultimately, her tragic physical death and metaphysical death, as a symbol of existential revolt, reveals the insignificance of human existence. Throughout the novel, James uses a series of floral metaphors and symbolism to liken Daisy’s persona to a flower, thereby establishing Daisy’s innocence and vitality. From a New Criticism standpoint, a lot of information is revealed by isolating the text from social or historical context. Her nickname, ‘Daisy’, is the most obvious flower pattern in the novel. It is significant that all characters in the novel call her by this name as the type of flower reflects her outward personality: she is bright, simple, and beautiful. James could have picked from a multitude of common flowers to use as Anne’s nickname in the novel including ‘Violet’ or ‘Rose’; however, both of these flower types convey a different persona that isn’t reflective of Anne. This leads to the question: what specifically does a daisy