Question

Although literary critics have tended to praise the unique in literary characterizations, many authors have employed the
stereotyped character successfully. Select one work of acknowledged literary merit and in a well-written essay, show how the conventional or stereotyped character or characters function to achieve the author’s purpose.

In literature, the use of conventional or stereotyped characters has been a topic of debate among literary critics. While some argue that these characters are limiting and lack depth, others argue that they can serve a valuable purpose in achieving an author’s goals. One example of an author who effectively employs stereotyped characters is F. Scott Fitzgerald in his novel “The Great Gatsby.” In this essay, I will show how Fitzgerald’s use of stereotyped characters functions to achieve his purpose of commenting on the excesses and shallowness of the Jazz Age.