Human Nature Portrayed In American Literature

Past and Present: Human Nature Portrayed in American Literature The very root of human nature has been debated for as long as humans have been civilized. The topic became ever more intriguing in literature over the last few centuries, as The United States of America was founded. The idea of a common human nature is very debatable and is open to interpretation, which can be seen through various authors’ representations of human nature. While each individual is entitled to their own interpretation as to what human nature is, many classic American works convey a common theme. These classic works are: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, and A Separate Peace by John Knowles. It is apparent in American literature that human nature is driven by the egotistical need to control a given situation, therefore, dominating human relationships. The first novel in which humans’ inherent nature can be seen is The Great Gatsby. …show more content…
Even when reflecting on his time during the war and Phineas’ death, Gene admits that he killed his enemy before his duty. Gene states, “I never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there” (Knowles 204). All of Gene’s actions were part of his egotistical plan to beat Phineas and dominate their relationship. The way in which Gene characterized Phineas as his enemy also made his actions justifiable internally. In Gene’s eyes, Phineas was a serious threat to him, both socially and academically.Gene’s human nature responded to the threat by trying to control and eradicate the threat. This egotistical need to control Phineas’ success drove Gene to fluctuate the tree and eventually kill Phineas. It is this need for control that drives human