The Idea of Change in This Side of Paradise

By the time the final chapter of the book comes to be, Amory is a completely different person than he once was. The entire book, as on might have realized, is focused almost completely on how Amory undergoes certain important events, then how he reacts to these different circumstances and how it changes him as a person. This series of change that is undergone ranges from emotional to personality to lifestyle.

In chapter three of book two Amory falls in love again, almost instantaneously, with a girl named Eleanor in Maryland. He meets her as they are both reciting poetry in the rain. The connection between the two seems logical, as they both enjoy literature, and neither of them is really conventional, although Eleanor is a bit more wild than Amory and hasn't suffered through heartbreak in the same way as Amory after Rosalind. This new relationship seems to be different than that of Amory's with Rosalind. Amory isn't as lovey-dovey so to speak with Eleanor. Instead they seem more realistic about everything and enjoy the time together, but seem to agree easily when Amory has to go back to the city.

On the night before he leaves, Eleanor challenges Amory by galloping with her horse towards the edge of a cliff and jumping off right as the horse goes over the edge. Amory had told her that on her deathbed she would change her Pagan beliefs, but she wanted to show him how resolute she in fact was. This is the official end of their relationship, but Amory takes it much better than the end of his previous relationship, it can be seen as a sign f growth in Amory. Eleanor and Amory eventually write a few letters to each other, but they never see each other again.

Along with the emotional level of change that is shown in chapter three of book two, Amory also demonstrates a good deal of change for the rest of the novel. Amory emerges in Atlantic City a while later and seems very low key and depressed. This foul attitude is not directed at Eleanor in any way however, but instead still slightly at Rosalind, and because he is not acquiring much wealth at all. In this chapter Amory makes a sacrifice for his friend Alec, and tells hotel security guards that he was the one sleeping with a certain girl, not Alec.

He gets a slap on the wrist and his name in the paper for breaking the law of the Mann Act, which would usually be no problem, but directly above his name in the paper is the announcement of Rosalind's engagement. He feels horrible in reading this, as he had left hope in his heart that Rosalind still loved him and would one day need him again. Along with this bad news, Amory is informed that his family's investments aren't doing well, and a few days later he learns of Monsignor Darcy's death. For Amory it can't really get much worse than this; his old love has been engaged, he has basically no money whatsoever, and the one father figure/ religious inspiration in his life has passed away. Amory does not resist this misfortune, but instead he manifests his depression from it.

Amory begins chapter five by walking aimlessly. He has a realization that his life as he knew it had fallen apart. He is no longer part of the upper, wealthy class, no longer has friends to converse with, and has lost the love of his life and her replacement. He talks to himself of giving in to the devil and living a sinful life in Mexico or other far away locations. At Monsignor Darcy's funeral, Amory learns something new about himself. After dwelling on the fact of how much Darcy meant to many of the men at the funeral, including himself, Amory realizes that he wants to be someone who will give people a sense of security. He gives up on cynical epigrams such as "Very few things matter and nothing matters very much." Amory wants to be someone who other people depend on, and feel secure around.

Amory decides to walk to Princeton, and is hitchhikes with two older men for a good portion of the trip. These men are of the wealthy class and Amory suddenly decides to argue in favor of Socialism after telling them he has no job, nor even any trade at the moment. The big man in the car seems interested in what Amory has to say, but the small man fiercely rejects what Amory argues for. This is another turning point in Amory's life as he had never argued in favor of Socialism, or in favor of the poor in fact, in his life. In his discussion suggests his anger at the structure of college and complains that just because he didn't do well with conic sections, he wasn't able to play football, while in his opinion he got a better education than the students who actually got to play.

Amory realizes that he will always be selfish, but by accepting and transcending his selfishness he could "bring poise and balance into (his) life." He tells himself how unselfish and virtuous he will be if he just takes his selfishness head on, rather than avoiding it. Amory finally arrives back at Princeton at the very end of the book. He is excited to pursue whatever it is that his life will focus on, such as art, politics, etc. Amory at this point has transcended his selfishness, as well as his depression. He thinks that he no longer has God in his heart, but this seems ok to him for now. He also recalls one last time of Rosalind, and mentions how everything else will always be a lesser substitute than life with her. The last line of the book shows how much Amory has grown as a character when he says, "I know myself, "but that is all-"