Comparison-Contrast essay: 12 Years a Slave and The Great Gatsby

Great novels of all times are the ones that evoke a response from the readers,
emotions such as, understanding, compassion, happiness or sadness because they
tell stories of love, treason, revenge or lost. One of those stories are the novels of
12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup and The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald.
The authors centered their characters in two major events that have had a huge
impact on American history. One of the novels, which is autobiographical, focuses
on the 18th century, American slavery and the other in the 20th, the Roaring
Twenties. Despite of all their noticeable differences, both novels had to explore the
notions of love, friendship and dreams that made a profound impact throughout
the lives of their main characters.

In the first book, the characters of 12 Years Slave embark on a journey of self-
discovery and understanding when it comes to the notions of love, dreams and
friendship. Salomon Northups deep love for his family keeps him alive throughout
the novel. The struggles to survive from the torments and cruelty of his captivity in
order to return to his loved ones force him as a man capable of endure physical
and emotional pain from his masters. When we talk about dreams, Solomon never
gives up his, that one day he will be free. His long for freedom is the testimony of
his strength, faith and hope to get back to his previous life as a free man.
Friendships is reflected in the truth Salomon put on Mr. Bass, an abolitionist. At
great risk, Salomon trust this man to help him get his freedom. Bass proved to be a
good friend to Solomon and contributed to save him from the agony of slavery

At the same time, in the second book, the characters of The Great Gatsby also
share and develop the three main notions of love, friendship and dream as well as
the other novel. For instance, Love between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan is
portrayed as the main motivation of Jays life. Gatsbys love for Daisy has become
an obsession and his ultimate goal. Gatsby loves her for what she represents rather
than for what she truly is as a person. Power, money, recognition were Gatsbys
more precious ambition, and along with Daisys love, Gatsby wants to conquer the
American dream. The dream for property, wealth and status justified all the
mediums to achieve it. In order to fulfil his dreams he lied about his identity and
poor backgrounds and got his money through dishonest means. As regard
friendship, Jays friendship with Nick Carraway is another mean to get Daisys love
back. Nick is a pragmatic man, who comes from the Middle-West, and does not
share the American dream the way Gatsby does. Somehow, both men manage to
build a friendship. Nick helped Jay and Daisy to rekindle their love and became a
true and genuine friend. Nick is the only one who remains with Gatsby throughout
the story up Jays fatal end.

In conclusion, it has been seen that although the Great Gatsby and 12 Years a
Slave were written in different times and use different language styles, both novels
deal with the topics of love, dreams and friendship, catching the readers attention
and provoking feelings of sympathy and compassion for the main characters lives.
They explored the longing and desire to fulfil their dreams, one of fame and
success, and the other, of freedom. Both stories enjoy the bonds of true friendship,
as well as the pursuit of happiness through love.