The Research of Thing-Narrative in Tender is The Night
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54691/5nv9hd19Keywords:
Thing-Narrative, Tender is the night, Consumer Culture, Thing-Power.Abstract
Tender is the Night, a 1934 literary masterpiece by F. Scott Fitzgerald, has long been regarded as a cornerstone in the study of American modernist literature due to its profound exploration of the spiritual turmoil of the Jazz Age. By tracing the decline of psychiatrist Dick Diver, the novel critiques how consumerism erodes individual subjectivity. This study employs close reading to examine F. Scott Fitzgerald's thing-narrative techniques in Tender Is the Night, contextualizing the novel within its social and historical milieu. The textual analysis bespeaks that consumption objects function as cultural symbols, alcohol acts as a subjective force, and the beach serves as an ontological representation, which collectively propel Dick Diver toward tragedy. The interplay of these material elements not only reflects Fitzgerald's critique of the "Jazz Age" but also underscores how matter intertwines with character fate, catalyzing tragedy. This thesis aims to clarify the influence of things on individuals in Tender Is the Night and explore Fitzgerald's literary reflection on the issue of human nature loss in modern society.
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