This essay explores how three different literary worksโF. Scott Fitzgerald's ... Show more
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Updated Mar 27, 2026
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A-Level English Literature A* Essay: Exploring Love Through Time
jem๐
@jemelia
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The Great Gatsby and the American Dream
Ever wondered why some love stories feel doomed from the start? Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby captures the glittering yet hollow world of 1920s America, where wealth and status create impossible barriers to genuine love.
The novel serves as a critique of the American Dream, showing how Gatsby's pursuit of success becomes tangled with his obsession with Daisy Buchanan. His "new money" wealth, earned through questionable means during Prohibition, can never match Daisy's "old money" status. This creates a fundamental deceptionโGatsby presents himself as something he's not to win someone who may be equally fake.
Gatsby's extravagant parties aren't really about celebrationโthey're desperate attempts to attract Daisy and prove his worth. The guests who "came and went like moths among the willows" show the superficial nature of this society, where appearances matter more than authenticity.
Key insight: Gatsby doesn't love Daisy as a person, but as a symbol of everything he believes he needs to belong in high society.
Class, Deception and Female Characters
You'll notice that Myrtle Wilson shares surprising similarities with Gatsbyโboth characters use deception to try climbing the social ladder. However, as a woman in the 1920s, Myrtle's options are far more limited.
Myrtle's affair with Tom Buchanan represents her only path to experiencing upper-class luxury. Her "cream-coloured chiffon dress" and fascination with "Town Tattle" magazines show her desperate attempts to mimic the lifestyle she craves. Unlike Daisy, who's consistently described using white imagery (suggesting purity), Myrtle's descriptions feel tainted and artificial.
The rigid social barriers of 1920s America mean that both Gatsby and Myrtle must deceive others about their true backgrounds and relationships. Their tragic ends suggest that such deception is ultimately unsustainable when class divisions are so entrenched.
Daisy herself becomes a victim of society's expectations, hoping her daughter will be "a beautiful little fool"โthe safest role for women in this oppressive system. Her need for male validation shows even privileged women aren't truly free.
Remember: The 1920s economic boom created new wealth but didn't break down old social hierarchiesโit just made the barriers more painful to see.
Hardy's Victorian Social Commentary
Thomas Hardy's "The Ruined Maid" takes us back to Victorian England, where female sexuality was heavily repressed and women had even fewer choices than in Gatsby's era. The poem's conversational tone makes its social criticism particularly sharp.
The character 'Melia has clearly improved her material circumstances, but at the cost of her reputation and former identity. The poem's structure, with 'Melia' repeated in each stanza, highlights how women's voices were restricted and their identities reduced to their sexual status.
Hardy uses traditional poetic conventions like archaic language and rhyme schemes, but fills them with taboo subject matterโcreating a deliberate contrast that exposes Victorian hypocrisy. The "polished" appearance 'Melia gains reveals how 19th-century society exploited women economically and sexually.
The poem's satirical approach suggests that 'Melia may have made the most rational choice available to her, even if society condemns it. This connects directly to how Daisy and Myrtle also navigate limited options in patriarchal societies.
Think about it: Both Hardy and Fitzgerald show women using the only power society gives themโtheir appearance and sexualityโto survive economically.
Keats and Romantic Deception
John Keats' "La Belle Dame sans Merci" explores deception in romantic relationships through the lens of supernatural seduction. The poem's dream-like quality mirrors how desire can distort reality and lead to self-deception.
The femme fatale figure appears to have power over the male speaker, but a feminist reading suggests she's actually reclaiming agency in a world where "pale kings, princes, warriors" typically hold all the control. The biblical and natural imagery ("manna dew", "garland", "roses") creates an Eden-like setting that makes the deception feel both beautiful and dangerous.
Sexual innuendo throughout the poem ("made sweet moan") reveals how physical desire drives the speaker's willingness to be deceived. Like Gatsby's idealisation of Daisy, the speaker projects his fantasies onto a figure who remains ultimately unknowable.
The poem connects to both other texts by showing how deception in love often reflects broader power imbalances in society. Whether it's Gatsby's class aspirations, Myrtle's economic desperation, or the speaker's romantic fantasies, all characters deceive themselves about what they can realistically achieve.
Final thought: All three writers suggest that deception in love isn't just personal weaknessโit's often the only way characters can survive in societies that offer them limited genuine choices.
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because itโs too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
A-Level English Literature A* Essay: Exploring Love Through Time
jem๐
@jemelia
This essay explores how three different literary worksโF. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Thomas Hardy's "The Ruined Maid", and John Keats' "La Belle Dame sans Merci"โall reveal how love and desire often involve deception. Each text shows characters who... Show more
The Great Gatsby and the American Dream
Ever wondered why some love stories feel doomed from the start? Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby captures the glittering yet hollow world of 1920s America, where wealth and status create impossible barriers to genuine love.
The novel serves as a critique of the American Dream, showing how Gatsby's pursuit of success becomes tangled with his obsession with Daisy Buchanan. His "new money" wealth, earned through questionable means during Prohibition, can never match Daisy's "old money" status. This creates a fundamental deceptionโGatsby presents himself as something he's not to win someone who may be equally fake.
Gatsby's extravagant parties aren't really about celebrationโthey're desperate attempts to attract Daisy and prove his worth. The guests who "came and went like moths among the willows" show the superficial nature of this society, where appearances matter more than authenticity.
Key insight: Gatsby doesn't love Daisy as a person, but as a symbol of everything he believes he needs to belong in high society.
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Class, Deception and Female Characters
You'll notice that Myrtle Wilson shares surprising similarities with Gatsbyโboth characters use deception to try climbing the social ladder. However, as a woman in the 1920s, Myrtle's options are far more limited.
Myrtle's affair with Tom Buchanan represents her only path to experiencing upper-class luxury. Her "cream-coloured chiffon dress" and fascination with "Town Tattle" magazines show her desperate attempts to mimic the lifestyle she craves. Unlike Daisy, who's consistently described using white imagery (suggesting purity), Myrtle's descriptions feel tainted and artificial.
The rigid social barriers of 1920s America mean that both Gatsby and Myrtle must deceive others about their true backgrounds and relationships. Their tragic ends suggest that such deception is ultimately unsustainable when class divisions are so entrenched.
Daisy herself becomes a victim of society's expectations, hoping her daughter will be "a beautiful little fool"โthe safest role for women in this oppressive system. Her need for male validation shows even privileged women aren't truly free.
Remember: The 1920s economic boom created new wealth but didn't break down old social hierarchiesโit just made the barriers more painful to see.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
Hardy's Victorian Social Commentary
Thomas Hardy's "The Ruined Maid" takes us back to Victorian England, where female sexuality was heavily repressed and women had even fewer choices than in Gatsby's era. The poem's conversational tone makes its social criticism particularly sharp.
The character 'Melia has clearly improved her material circumstances, but at the cost of her reputation and former identity. The poem's structure, with 'Melia' repeated in each stanza, highlights how women's voices were restricted and their identities reduced to their sexual status.
Hardy uses traditional poetic conventions like archaic language and rhyme schemes, but fills them with taboo subject matterโcreating a deliberate contrast that exposes Victorian hypocrisy. The "polished" appearance 'Melia gains reveals how 19th-century society exploited women economically and sexually.
The poem's satirical approach suggests that 'Melia may have made the most rational choice available to her, even if society condemns it. This connects directly to how Daisy and Myrtle also navigate limited options in patriarchal societies.
Think about it: Both Hardy and Fitzgerald show women using the only power society gives themโtheir appearance and sexualityโto survive economically.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
Keats and Romantic Deception
John Keats' "La Belle Dame sans Merci" explores deception in romantic relationships through the lens of supernatural seduction. The poem's dream-like quality mirrors how desire can distort reality and lead to self-deception.
The femme fatale figure appears to have power over the male speaker, but a feminist reading suggests she's actually reclaiming agency in a world where "pale kings, princes, warriors" typically hold all the control. The biblical and natural imagery ("manna dew", "garland", "roses") creates an Eden-like setting that makes the deception feel both beautiful and dangerous.
Sexual innuendo throughout the poem ("made sweet moan") reveals how physical desire drives the speaker's willingness to be deceived. Like Gatsby's idealisation of Daisy, the speaker projects his fantasies onto a figure who remains ultimately unknowable.
The poem connects to both other texts by showing how deception in love often reflects broader power imbalances in society. Whether it's Gatsby's class aspirations, Myrtle's economic desperation, or the speaker's romantic fantasies, all characters deceive themselves about what they can realistically achieve.
Final thought: All three writers suggest that deception in love isn't just personal weaknessโit's often the only way characters can survive in societies that offer them limited genuine choices.
We thought youโd never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help โ all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because itโs too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because itโs too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didnโt even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as Iโm sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH ๐๐๐ฒ๐ค๐โจ๐๐ฎ
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user