Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American writer of novels and short stories, whose works have been seen as evocative of the Jazz Age, a term he allegedly coined himself. Fitzgerald was often regarded as a not-quite-serious literary figure. Himself, like many authors after the First World War created new literature of long-term merit that shattered conservative taboos in their expression of reality. Fitzgerald creates the modernistic renaissance that is “The Great Gatsby” by using realistic and naturalistic techniques. He is thought of as a romantic writer who created using his style of syntax, and imagery, The example of syntax present is especially effective at portraying characters’ thoughts and feelings; Fitzgerald’s use of ellipsis …show more content…
and dashes aid in making the plot interesting. Seeing the characters’ inner turmoil lets the audience understand the importance of certain events, such as Nick’s impression Tom Buchanan after many years ( ). Fitzgerald novel uses varied sentence structure throughout the book to develop the theme of the perpetual cycle of man pursuing wealth and riches but failing. Man tries again to only once more fail, forever working against the tides of society. By Fitzgerald employing these syntactical devices, he is able to emphasize the conflict as the sentence is repeatedly interrupted reflecting the interruptions in man’s life. Fitzgerald utilizes imagery to draw the reader in and to create the intended scene.
He shows life and its problems to give a comprehensive view of modern life by presenting the entire world picture. The way he uses striking adjectives paints a vivid scene for the reader. Fitzgerald uses his descriptive style to reveal qualities of his characters. In chapter 1, he describes Tom as having “a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning forward” (7). He continues to say he had “a body capable of enormous leverage – a cruel body” (7). As a result of these detailed illustrations of Tom Buchanan, the reader has a sense of his domineering and powerful personality. Fitzgerald not only uses descriptive language to introduce characters, but the lifestyle that they lead as well. At one of Gatsby’s infamous parties in chapter 3, “the groups change more swiftly, swell with new arrivals, dissolve and form in the same breath…confident girls who weave here and there” (40). Words like swiftly, swell, and dissolve flow together and create a vivid and saturated picture of a well attended gathering. Fitzgerald uses his often unusual and elaborate descriptions to help the reader picture and imagine what is going on in the
plot. Fitzgerald's style is completely his own and perhaps the most incomparable aspect of his prose. He utilizes many writing techniques to draw the reader in and create his own unique style. His novels include elaborate descriptions of characters and places, similes that create imagery, as well as repetition, various forms of literature, and allusions. By using a variety of literary techniques, syntax and imagery, in “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald develops his individual writing style through which he hopes to immerse the reader story and message.
The Great Gatsby is a well written and exemplary novel of the Jazz age, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald desired writing his books about the roaring twenties and would explain what happened during that time frame. The majority of the characters in The Great Gatsby cared more about money, power, and having a good time then the people in their lives. This lack of caring for others resulted in the hardships the characters faced. Especially, Jay Gatsby was one of these cruel characters.
Considering that many authors use figurative language techniques in their writing to help convey a specific message; there is no wonder why Fitzgerald and Twain both use the tools for the purpose of criticising people in more of a low key fashion. Fitzgerald uses many different figurative language devices in The Great Gatsby, like similes. Because it is set in the roaring 20s, partying is a big element to the storyline. When Gatsby throws extravagant parties, Nick thinks to himself “...men and women came and went like moths among the whispering and the champagne and the stars.” (Fitzgerald 44). Nick refers to the social statuses of the young people in the 1920s. It proves that they really just want to party, get wasted, and that they absolutely
In the Great Gatsby, what you refer to as Gatsbyś moral ambiguity is the result of his obsession with recapturing the past as he sees it, basically his dream. Everything else is subservient to his dream. Gatsby is so in love with Daisy that he is willing to do anything to win her. Gatsby can be a good bad evil person, but on the other hand he could be a good noice person that is what mak\es him moral ambiguity.
Tom Buchanan is repeatedly depicted by words referring to his hulking and massive frame, producing a vivid image of sheer arrogance and power. Before Tom is even introduced, his expansive house is seen, an ostentatious mansion fit for a postcard. Tom later remarks matter-of-factly “I’ve got a nice place here'; (12). Nick’s first actual encounter with Tom is a paragraph saturated with words of strength and authority: sturdy, supercilious, enormous, and aggressive, to name a few. Tom’s physical body is described as “cruel'; and this describes more than just his body, but his demeanor as well. His voice, “…a gruff husky tenor…'; (11), added to his rough image. Every one of his actions is completed with unnecessary force. Tom has the tendency to manhandle Nick, manipulating nearly all of his movements. “…wedging his tense arm imperatively under mine, Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square. (16)'; The action verbs Fitzgerald employs convey Tom’s brutish force. Charles Scribner III could not have been more correct when he said, “I would know Tom Buchanan if I met him on the street and would avoid him…'; (199).
Tom is a villainous and abusive character and his actions are displayed when he finds out about Daisy’s affair with Gatsby and he becomes outraged, even when he is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson at the same time. Gatsby tries to get Daisy to leave Tom, although he fails to do so. This demonstrates that Gatsby was developed through the Jungian lens as he is the protector always wanting to protect Daisy no matter what the circumstance is, and in this example he shows his mask as he is showing that he wants to protect Daisy instead of running off as Nick insisted. In both examples it shows that the development and understanding of the character Gatsby has been enhanced through the archetypes, and that being the protector Gatsby is he loses track of reality which lead to his death. In addition to the archetype for Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses an archetype to develop Tom Buchanan so there is an extension to the understanding of the character.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is an absurd story, whether considered as romance, melodrama, or plain record of New York high life. The occasional insights into character stand out as very green oases on an arid desert of waste paper. Throughout the first half of the book the author shadows his leading character in mystery, but when in the latter part he unfolds his life story it is difficult to find the brains, the cleverness, and the glamour that one might expect of a main character.
Fitzgerald has used Tom in The Great Gatsby, to demonstrate the power that men had during the 1920s. In order to understand Tom's purpose in the book, it must be known that he has been purposely set up as a character the reader does not like. Fitzgerald has done this, as he does not like men whose lives mirror Tom's. Tom is a violent man, who is completely in control of the women in his life. He shows how disrespectful some men were to women. For example, he breaks his mistress Myrtle's nose.
In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses tone, diction, syntax and imagery to voice Nick's perception of the world around him. In this passage his use of language is used repetitively to convey Jordan Baker, Daisy and Tom Buchanan's lives. On the outside it may look like they all are living a perfect and ideal life, however Fitzgerald's illuminating use of language highlights how far from perfect their lives truly are.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby demonstrates what Marie-Laure Ryan, H. Porter Abbott and David Herman state about what narratology should be. These theorists emphasize the importance of conflict, human experience, gaps and consciousness, among many other elements, in order for a story to be considered a narrative. The Great Gatsby shows these elements throughout the book in an essential way. This makes the reader become intrigued and desperate to know what will happen next. The Great Gatsby is unpredictable throughout the use of gaps, consciousness and conflict.
F. Scott Fitzgerald brilliantly wrote many novels as well as short stories. One of his best known works is The Great Gatsby. In the novel, the main character Jay Gatsby tries to obtain his lifetime dreams: wealth and Daisy Buchanan. Throughout the story, he works at achieving his goals while overcoming many obstacles. Fitzgerald’s plot line relies heavily on accidents, carelessness, and misconceptions, which ultimately reveal the basic themes in the story.
Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby represent opposite ends of the spectrum of ambition towards reaching their goals of a disreputable relationship in The Great Gatsby. Chapter Two introduces the laid back approach Tom takes towards his rumored mistress: “His acquaintances resented the fact that he turned up in popular restaurants with her and, leaving her at a table, sauntered about, chatting with whomsoever he knew” (Fitzgerald 24). In this passage, words like “sauntered” provide an image of Tom as an airy, careless man who doesn’t take anything too seriously. The word “sauntered” also entails either that Tom doesn’t feel that his relationship with Myrtle requires constant worry and fine-tuning OR that if Myrtle were to leave him, he wouldn’t care. The fact that Tom’s friends “resent” his apparently casual cheating on his wife implies that Tom doesn’t pay much mind to what other people think about him. Contrastingly, Fitzgerald portrays Gatsby as character that lives his life for Daisy, his every move followed through with the thought of Daisy as a determinant of what to do and what not to do. This level of obsession Gatsby has with Daisy is apparent when Jordan informs Nick that Gatsby has “read a Chicago paper for years just on the chance of catching a glimpse of Daisy’s name” (Fitzgerald 79). As evident in this quotation, Gatsby has taken an everyday act of reading a newspaper and transformed it into a search for Daisy. The description of Gatsby’s purpose as looking for a “chance of catching a glimpse” proves that Gatsby has every intention and ambition, but no initial rewa...
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a book about a young rich man that had a mysterious past. The author intentionally chose Nick as the narrator of this story. He is Gatsby’s neighbor, and he often contradicts himself. He said he was taught by his father to not criticize people, but he often criticized people including Gatsby. Critics in real life often behave like Nick and are hypocritical.
him saying "if personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures then there was something
F. Scott Fitzgerald was a very well-known and successful writer during the Jazz Age. His work influenced many Americans during this time period. In his novels, The Great Gatsby and This Side of Paradise, the characters represent the idea of how society is driven by only material success. Fitzgerald’s life is an example of both sides of the American dream, the joys of young love, wealth, success and the tragedies associated with success and failure.