Global Issue: Media manipulation and its impact on society

• Literary Text: The Circle (Dave Eggers) → Extract: The protagonist’s realization about mass surveillance
• Non-Literary Work: A political advertisement → Extract: Use of emotional appeal and selective framing

• State the Global Issue:
  • The pursuit of the American Dream often leads individuals to struggle with identity, societal expectations, and inevitable disillusionment.
• Introduce the First Text:
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby (1925) explores this theme through the tragic rise and fall of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire whose relentless pursuit of wealth and lost love ends in destruction. Fitzgerald employs symbolism, characterization, and a non-linear narrative to critique the illusion of success in a materialistic society
• Introduce the Second Text:
  • Similarly, Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman (1949) examines the same struggle from a different perspective, portraying Willy Loman, a working-class salesman whose blind faith in capitalist ideals leads to his downfall. Miller uses memory sequences, realism, and dramatic irony to expose the emotional toll of chasing an unattainable dream.
• Briefly Connect Both Texts to the Global Issue:
  • While both Gatsby and Willy embody the desire for success, their experiences highlight different facets of the American Dream’s false promises—Gatsby’s being rooted in romanticized illusion and wealth, while Willy’s reflects the crushing weight of societal expectations and economic failure.
  • Through their respective narrative techniques, both Fitzgerald and Miller reveal the dangers of chasing an ideal that may never truly be within reach.

• Example Close Analysis (for The Circle):
  • "The slogan ‘SECRETS ARE LIES. SHARING IS CARING. PRIVACY IS THEFT.’ reflects the company’s control over personal freedom. Eggers’ use of repetition and paradox highlights the manipulation of language to justify surveillance."

Example Wide Analysis (for The Circle):

• "Eggers’ critique of mass surveillance is influenced by contemporary concerns over tech giants like Google and Facebook. By exaggerating corporate control, he warns of the potential consequences of unchecked data collection."

Example Conclusion with Clear Linkages

• Restate the Global Issue:
  • Both The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman expose the American Dream’s tendency to create false hope, shaping individuals’ identities and leading to disillusionment.
• Summarize the Key Insights from Both Texts:
  • Fitzgerald critiques the illusion of success and wealth through Gatsby’s tragic downfall, while Miller examines the emotional toll of blind ambition through Willy’s struggles.
  • Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism and fragmented storytelling highlights Gatsby’s unattainable dream, whereas Miller’s realistic portrayal and memory sequences emphasize Willy’s growing detachment from reality.
• Emphasize the Relevance of the Issue Today:
  • Even today, society continues to promote material success as a measure of self-worth, leaving many to chase ideals that may never be fully realized.
  • By illustrating the psychological and societal consequences of this pursuit, Fitzgerald and Miller challenge readers to reflect on the true cost of ambition and the narratives that shape our understanding of success.

• Further Explanation: "Can you elaborate on how Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism critiques the illusion of the American Dream?"
  • One of Fitzgerald’s most powerful symbols, the green light, represents Gatsby’s unattainable dream—his belief that wealth and status will bring him happiness and reunite him with Daisy.
  • However, the light remains forever out of reach, reinforcing the idea that the American Dream is built on false hope and unfulfilled desire.
  • By placing the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, physically close yet forever distant, Fitzgerald critiques how ambition often blinds individuals to reality, leading them toward inevitable disillusionment.