The Shallow Lives of the Upper Class in “Play It as It Lays” and “Less Than Zero”
1. Introduction
The concept of social decay has been greatly reflected in two of the most controversial contemporary novels, "Play It as It Lays" by Joan Didion and "Less Than Zero" by Bret Easton Ellis. Although the novels were written in different time periods, they both accurately depict the shallowness and emptiness of the wealthy upper class in America. In Didion’s novel, the main character Maria Wyeth is a successful model who is gradually losing her mind due to a lack of purpose in her life. Ellis’ novel follows Clay, a young man from a wealthy family who becomes involved in the world of drugs and sex. Through their characters, both authors explore the destructive nature of greed and the emptiness of a life without meaning.
2. Comparative analysis of the novels “Play It as It Lays” by Joan Didion and “Less Than Zero” by Bret Easton Ellis
Although "Play It as It Lays" and "Less Than Zero" were written in different time periods, they share many similarities in terms of themes and style. Both novels are set in California and explore the dark side of the American dream. The characters in both books are rich, beautiful, and empty. They spend their days going to parties, taking drugs, and having meaningless sex. As the novels progress, it becomes clear that the characters are not happy with their lives. They are all searching for something that they can never find.
One of the major themes in both novels is the shallowness of the upper class. The characters have everything that they could ever want, but they are still unhappy. In "Play It as It Lays," Maria says that "everything everyone wants is stupid" (Didion, p.168). She is tired of going to parties and taking drugs. She wants something more than just material possessions. In "Less Than Zero," Clay’s friend Julian tells him that "money doesn’t mean anything" (Ellis, p.93). He is tired of the empty lifestyle that he leads. He wants to experience something real and meaningful.
Another theme that is explored in both novels is the destructiveness of greed. The characters are so focused on getting what they want that they are willing to destroy anything and anyone who gets in their way. In "Play It as It Lays," Maria has an abortion because she does not want to be tied down with a child. In "Less Than Zero," Clay’s friend Trent gets his girlfriend pregnant and then forces her to have an abortion. The characters in both novels are willing to sacrifice anything for their own happiness.
The style of both novels is also similar. Both authors use first-person narration to give readers insight into the minds of their characters. The novels are also written in a very sparse style with short sentences and little description. This creates a sense of emptiness which reflects the lives of the characters.
3. Conclusion
In conclusion, "Play It as It Lays&
FAQ
Both "Play It as It Lays" by Joan Didion and "Less Than Zero" by Brett Easton Ellis are novels that explore different aspects of American culture and society. However, "Play It as It Lays" is more focused on the darker side of American culture, while "Less Than Zero" focuses more on the shallowness and emptiness of American society.
The key themes that emerge in both novels are loneliness, isolation, and despair. These themes are explored differently in each book, with "Play It as It Lays" being more bleak and depressing, while "Less Than Zero" is more empty and superficial.
I preferred "Play It as It Lays" because I felt it was a more well-rounded novel that explored its themes in a more depth than "Less Than Zero."[""Play It as It Lays" by Joan Didion and "Less Than Zero" by Brett Easton Ellis are both novels that explore different aspects of American culture and society. Both novels also have similar themes, such as the shallowness of American culture and the emptiness of the American dream. However, there are also some key differences between the two books. "Play It as It Lays" is set in Hollywood and focuses on the film industry, while "Less Than Zero" is set in Los Angeles and focuses on the world of rich teenagers. Additionally, "Play It as It Lays" is told from a third-person perspective, while "Less Than Zero" is told from a first-person perspective.","Both "Play It as It Lays" and "Less Than Zero" explore different aspects of American culture and society. In particular, they both focus on the shallowness of American culture and the emptiness of the American dream. However, they do so in different ways. "Play It as It Lays" focuses more on how Hollywood can be a corrupting influence, while "Less Than Zero" focuses more on how consumerism can lead to a sense of emptiness.","The key themes that emerge in both novels are the shallowness of American culture and the emptiness of the American dream. These themes are explored differently in each book depending on their setting and focus. For example, "Play It as it Lays" looks at how Hollywood can create false illusions about life, while "Less Than Zero" looks at how consumerism can lead to a sense of hollowness."","" Overall, I preferred "Play it As it Lay's". I thought it was a more well-rounded novel that did a better job exploring its themes than Less than Zero"."]
