Research Paper : P P Savani University
Title: A comparative study of Revolution 2020 by Chetan Bhagat and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Author’s name: Emisha Ravani
Academic affiliation: Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, Gujrat, India.
Contact email address: emisharavani3459@gmail.com
Abstract:
The researcher has attempted the related literature regarding the topic of present research work. There are many comparative studies of the prominent literary works. Why is comparative studies useful to the students or scholars? To make such areas strong like critical thinking, strong writing skills and foreign language comprehension. The researcher is providing the comparative study of two novels: ‘The Great Gatsby’ by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald and ‘Revolution Twenty20’ by Chetan Bhagat. Each novel comes from the different time though having the same elements like portrayal of the themes of Love, Corruption, Ambition. One novel comes from the 20th century and another one comes from 21 st century so this can be studying genetic structuralism as well. This study is compiled as research to study about the characteristics of the society when the novels have been published and the period when the author of the literary works lived while mainly discussing how different periods create different kinds of stories. It also mainly focuses on taking a glance on how society impacts the authors’ thought and perception to create such literary works.
Key words: Comparative studies, The Great Gatsby, Revolution Twenty20
1.Introduction
This study is going to attempt the comparative study of two different novels. One is ‘Revolution Twenty20’ by Chetan Bhagat and another one is ‘The Great Gatsby’ by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. The Researcher is going to look at both the novels through various lenses. While one belongs to the twentieth century and another is from the twenty-first century. Along with that the American writer and an Indian writer will be discussed by their universality and literariness. Ages have influenced them in a unique way.
This dissertation explored works by F. Scott Fitzgerald like, This Side of Paradise, 1920; The Beautiful and Damned, 1922; The Great Gatsby, 1925; Tender Is the Night, 1934; The Last Tycoon, 1941. As well as some works of Chetan Bhagat like, Five Point Someone , One Night @ the Call Center , The 3 Mistakes Of My Life , 2 States , Revolution 2020 , Half Girlfriend , One Indian Girl, The Girl In Room 105 , One Arranged Murder .
This work has some objectives to explore ahead like How novelists can be compared who belongs from the different continents? How has the time influenced both the writers? What is their own style and flow which is established in their works? Are there any biographical or personal influences which we read through their pens? What are those aspects which can be studied strongly under the comparative studies? From these both writers the work is coming that is very likeable by young and bright people.
1.2 What is Comparative Literature Studies?
Comparative Literature is a multidisciplinary field of study that explores the connections between different literary forms, cultural traditions, and ideas. It encompasses a wide range of literary works, including fiction, poetry, drama, literary non-fiction, and visual culture. The focus of Comparative Literature is not limited to one specific language, culture, or geographic region, but rather it aims to study literary works and cultural production in a global context.
The discipline of Comparative Literature is built on the idea of comparison, which means tracing connections and similarities between different works of literature and cultural production. This comparison is not limited by national or linguistic borders and encourages students to explore and understand cultures on their own terms, without imposing their own cultural or linguistic biases.
The study of Comparative Literature requires students to be proficient in more than one language, which is an essential part of this multidisciplinary program of study. By learning to read and view cultural texts in their original languages, students can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical context in which they were created. However, when students are not able to read the original text, they are encouraged to pay close attention to the translation and its effects on the meaning and interpretation of the text.
Comparative Literature is a flexible and individualized program of study that brings together a group of faculty and students who share a common interest in exploring the connections between different literary forms, cultural traditions, and ideas. By breaking down the barriers between languages, cultures, and geographical regions, Comparative Literature offers students a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the world and its cultural production.
Now here it is going to be a brief introduction about the authors and some of their works to get an idea about their writing style and the area they touched upon.
1.3 Chetan Bhagat
Chetan Bhagat is based in India and primarily writes about contemporary Indian society, culture, and politics. His writing often focuses on the experiences and challenges faced by young people in India and aims to provide a relatable and thought-provoking perspective on modern Indian life. He writes in English and is known for his simple, straightforward writing style that appeals to a wide range of readers.
1.4 Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Fitzgerald was an American author and playwright, considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. He was born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and died on December 21, 1940, in Hollywood, California. Fitzgerald is best known for his novels, including "This Side of Paradise," "The Beautiful and Damned," and "The Great Gatsby," which is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of American literature. His writing often focuses on the themes of wealth, status, love, and decadence, and explores the changes in American society during the 1920s. He is known for his vivid, lyrical prose and his ability to capture the glamour and excess of the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald's life and work continue to be widely studied and celebrated today.
1.5 The comparative aspects of the novels:
The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, is a novel that explores the decadence of the 1920s and the collapse of the American dream. It focuses on the lives of the wealthy, elite and their indulgences, as well as the moral decay and disillusionment of the society. On the other hand, Revolution Twenty20 by Chetan Bhagat, written in 2012, is a novel about the Indian middle class, its aspirations, and the challenges it faces in a rapidly changing world. It deals with issues like corruption, poverty, and unemployment, and the struggles of young people to find their place in society.
The two novels are different in terms of setting and theme. The Great Gatsby is set in the United States in the 1920s, and it explores the decadence and moral decay of the wealthy elite, while Revolution Twenty20 is set in contemporary India and focuses on the aspirations and struggles of the middle class.
In terms of writing style, The Great Gatsby is written in a lyrical and elegant style, with complex and often indirect characterization, while Revolution Twenty20 is written in a more straightforward and conversational style, with simpler and more direct characterization.
In terms of characters, The Great Gatsby is characterised by larger-than-life figures such as Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, while the characters in Revolution Twenty20 are more relatable, everyday people. The characters in The Great Gatsby are more flamboyant, while those in Revolution Twenty20 are more realistic and grounded in everyday life.
Both novels deal with similar themes, such as the corruption of the elite and the struggles of the middle class, but The Great Gatsby is more focused on the decadence of the elite and their moral decay, while Revolution Twenty20 is more focused on the aspirations and struggles of the middle class.
While The Great Gatsby and Revolution Twenty20 are both novels that explore similar themes, they are different in terms of setting, writing style, and characterization. The Great Gatsby is a classic that explores the decadence and moral decay of the wealthy elite, while Revolution Twenty20 is a contemporary novel that focuses on the aspirations and struggles of the middle class in India.
I love you the more in that i believe you had liked me for my own sake and for nothing else. - John Keats
We can find the influence of Keats when we get to know Fitzgerald personally. And it is depicted in the novel by the very unique portrayal of his characters. The characters of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan are key characters to understand this in a better sense.
When we go to the Chetan Bhagat we find the same thing by the three main characters. Aarti's character is swinging between both the man characters of Raghav and Gopal by their different capacities and mainly the financial ability.
Conclusion :
Comparative Literature Studies is a discipline that examines connections between different aesthetic forms, cultural traditions, and ideas, without arbitrary stopping at national or linguistic borders. It encompasses literature, visual culture, and cultural production more broadly. Chetan Bhagat is an Indian author who writes about contemporary Indian society, culture, and politics and is known for his simple, straightforward writing style. Francis Scott Fitzgerald was an American author known for his novels exploring wealth, status, love, and decadence during the 1920s and is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. The Great Gatsby and Revolution Twenty20 are two novels that can be compared through their themes and how they reflect their respective times and cultures. The Great Gatsby explores the decadence of the 1920s and the collapse of the American dream, while Revolution Twenty20 deals with issues like corruption, poverty, and unemployment in contemporary India.
Work cited :
(n.d.). F. Scott Fitzgerald Society – The F. Scott Fitzgerald Society is an international forum for the promotion, understanding and enjoyment of the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from http://fscottfitzgeraldsociety.org/
(n.d.). Chetan Bhagat : Welcome to Stories. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from http://www.chetanbhagat.com/
John Keats Quotes - BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Inspirational Quotes at BrainyQuote. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/john-keats-quotes
Kobis, D. (2019, April). A COMPARATIVE STUDY: GENETIC STRUCTURALISM ON JANE EYRE AND THE GREAT GATSBY. Academia.edu. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https://www.academia.edu/42828774/A_COMPARATIVE_STUDY_GENETIC_STRUCTURALISM_ON_JANE_EYRE_AND_THE_GREAT_GATSBY
What is Comparative Literature | Department of Comparative Literature. (n.d.). Comparative Literature. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https://complit.uoregon.edu/what-is-comparative-literature-2/
Thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment