Task IV

Joseph Ng

There are common themes in literature. One statement can describe different pieces of literature. The statement by George Bernard Shaw, "There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it." The statement is saying that if you get what you want, you’ll be sad, and if you don’t get it, you’ll still be sad. I agree with this statement. This statement characterizes tragedies such as "Macbeth" and by William Shakespeare, and the other is "The Great Gatsby", by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

"Macbeth" is a tragedy that takes place in the 11^th century. "Macbeth" is an example of the theme because of the ambition of Macbeth. Macbeth future was told by three witches. They said that he would become a Thane, and then the King of Scotland. Once he became the Thane, he thought it might be true that he would become king. His desire was to become king, however, the current king was his cousin, as well as friend. He was miserable trying to plot and kill the beloved king. However, he went through with it. He figured once he became king, he would be happy. Once he became king, things only got worse. He got what he wanted, but was unhappy. Things only got worse and he became more miserable as time passed, as his wife died and his friends betrayed him. He died a miserable person, despite getting and becoming what he wanted.

The statement also applies to the story, "The Great Gatsby". Gatsby desire was to become rich and make himself better, as well as to be happy with his one love Daisy. Gatsby used to be with Daisy back when he was still poor. However, Daisy was materialistic and couldn’t wait any longer for Gatsby to become rich. In turn, Daisy was married someone else, named Tom Buchannan. Once Gatsby became rich, he wanted to be reunited with Daisy. He succeeded, however was still unhappy. He wanted Daisy to leave her husband, and to tell him that she never loved him. However, Daisy could not do that. The plot thickens when Daisy runs over her husband’s mistress in Gatsby’s car. The mistress’ husband was told that it was Gatsby who killed her, and was killed by the husband.

The two pieces of literature where characterizations of the statement. In both cases, the characters of the respective pieces of literature got what they wanted, however was unsatisfied. Both died at the end miserable, despite getting what they wanted. Macbeth was miserable because of the way he got what he desired, and what happened after he got it. The reason for Gatsby’s unhappiness was because of his high expectations of Daisy. He felt that everything would be the same as before, and in his own mind, he pictured Daisy to be the perfect person.

To paraphrase the statement, "You’re miserable with it, and your miserable without it". It is a true statement and I agree with it. If a person wanted to become rich, and does not succeed at that, they are unhappy. On the contrary, a person can become rich, however, and still be miserable. That is the case in literature, such as in "Macbeth", and "The Great Gatsby".