Who is Amory Blaine? It seems, in a certain sense, that Amory constitutes the portrait par excellence of American youth, always struggling between individuality and the desire for acceptance. But we also see glimpses of situations in which he seems to be the embodiment of America itself – of the old European heritage, grappling with its uniqueness in a world where, to survive, it must adapt. Fitzgerald described the novel as a “novel of inquiry.” ” which focuses on Amory’s journey to self-understanding. The three main elements that influence Amory on his path to self-realization are conventions, women and money. This is what makes him a purely American character. These three elements are in fact what advance the American character: individuality vs. convention, the search for fulfilling romance, and the American dream in the form of fulfillment and self-importance. Amory's arrogance and selfishness are also a hallmark of his purely American nature, as the American lifestyle is, in essence, solitary, whose journey focuses on self-realization, the self, personal individuality and about importance in a world. social context. Fitzgerald's “This Side of Paradise” follows less the thread of a story, rather it provides a sketchy portrait of Amory and his quest to understand the world. The story is told by an expert third-person narrator who follows and enriches Amory's point of view, occasionally inserting his own thoughts into the narrative. Amory is the center of the narrative, just as America's youth are the center of their own. It's a purely American approach to life, that is, you are the protagonist, the others are just secondary characters to the main story. The portraits of the other character in the novel in the middle of a sheet of paper while doing a job he hated. Identity It is debated among critics whether or not Amory recognizes himself at the end of the book, or whether it is just a fleeting state of self-awareness. Just like the average American, Amory doesn't know who he is, rather who he wants to be, who he should be, and what others consider him to be. Conclusions Amory is essentially a prototype of the lazier side of the virile young American, therefore a semi-negative archetype of an American. Self-centered, focused on popularity rather than hard work, Amory seeks wealth and recognition while also avoiding adhering to social norms. His individuality, otherness, and stubbornness in moving forward against all odds make him a stereotypical true American, despite his self-centeredness and numerous other flaws. The novel is Amory's search for his own identity. Whether he ultimately succeeded is still debatable.