The Great Gatsby:
* Jay Gatsby's Pursuit of Daisy: Gatsby's entire life is consumed by his desire to recapture the idealized version of his past love, Daisy. He builds a life of wealth and extravagance, believing that this will be enough to win her back. This pursuit is ultimately futile because it's based on a romanticized vision of Daisy, not the real woman she is. Gatsby's desire is flawed because it's unattainable and based on an idealized past.
* The Illusion of the American Dream: Gatsby's relentless pursuit of Daisy embodies the American Dream gone wrong. He believes wealth and status are the keys to happiness and love, ignoring the deeper complexities of human relationships. Gatsby's pursuit is ultimately a tragic commentary on the illusory nature of achieving perfection through material possessions and social climbing.
* The Unattainable Ideal: The novel is filled with characters who chase after unattainable ideals. Daisy's desire for a carefree, luxurious life, Tom's desire for power and control, and Gatsby's desire for Daisy's love all stem from a yearning for something beyond their reach. These desires lead to disillusionment, heartbreak, and ultimately, tragedy.
Sonnets from the Portuguese:
* The Pursuit of Love: Unlike Gatsby's materialistic pursuit, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnets explore a more profound and spiritual yearning for love. The poems are addressed to her future husband, Robert Browning, and express her intense longing for him.
* Perfection in Another: The sonnets celebrate the idealized image of her beloved, recognizing him as a source of beauty, strength, and inspiration. This desire is not focused on changing him or achieving something externally, but on the profound connection and emotional fulfillment she finds in him.
* Self-Discovery Through Love: While seeking perfection in her beloved, Barrett Browning also explores the transformative power of love. Her sonnets chart her journey of self-discovery, as she learns to love herself more fully through her love for Browning. This self-discovery suggests that the pursuit of perfection can involve personal growth and the acceptance of flaws, rather than the pursuit of unattainable ideals.
In Summary:
Both works explore the human desire for perfection, but they highlight different aspects of this yearning:
* Gatsby: Focuses on the destructive nature of striving for unattainable ideals, fueled by material desires and a romanticized vision of the past.
* Sonnets from the Portuguese: Explores a more spiritual and intimate desire for love, recognizing the transformative power of a loving connection and the possibility of finding perfection in another while also discovering oneself.
While both works ultimately show that perfection is often elusive and unattainable, they offer different perspectives on the human desire for it, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of this universal human experience.