The Intrinsic Value of Relationships, and The Drastic Effects of Greed :: essays research papers fc

For so many race single of the hardest things in livelihood is maintaining a strong and healthy relationship with an another(prenominal) person, but it is in particular difficult in a romantic relationship. For the most part, successful relationships ar based on honesty, communication, trust, and most importantly compromise. When you are in a relationship that has a foundation based on those characteristics, it makes you feel committed with that person. On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, traits such as jealousy, greed, deceit and selfishness stop lead to disastrous relationships that will plainly leave people hurt. devil classic books that weve indicate this semester are McTeague by Frank Norris, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Throughout both(prenominal) books, the reader can easily find an underlie theme of relationships if they look hard enough. In both novels it seems to be lavishly clear that the prominent relationship portrayed is a failed r elationship. When analyzing the relationships between the people in the book, it becomes clear through the ways in which the characters interact with separately other throughout the stories, that they are not actually relationships in the unbent essence of the word. Another recurring theme that is common in both books by Norris and Fitzgerald is the attribute of greed. In McTeague, the greed that is on display is one that is present throughout the novel. The first time we are introduced to it is when Marcus claims that Trinas harming lottery ticket belongs to him, and it takes a tragic turn, ultimately leading to McTeagues killing of Trina and Marcus, before dying himself from dehydration in the desert soon thereafter. In The Great Gatsby, a type of greed that is on a similar level was quite obvious within the relationships of Tom and Daisy as well as Gatsby and Daisy. This theme of greed, hidden behind the different relationships we read about in both books, was a main source o f their failures.In McTeague, Norris first portrays Marcus as the closest friend that McTeague has. McTeague and Marcus meet each other at the car conductors coffee joint, where the two occupied the same table, and met at every meal (Norris 10). One is naturally led to believe, based on their frequent meals together, and the close living proximity to one another, that the two were passing close friends, conceivably even best friends. Based on Norris translation of Marcus as one of McTeagues closest friends, probably his closest friend, we only have access to one side of the relationship, but no documentary indication of how Marcuss feels towards McTeague.