The Great Gatsby - Close Reading Paper (Insert New Title) In the description of Gatsby’s party, Fitzgerald uses specific language and word choice in order to convey Nick’s judgment of the superficiality and fickleness of the people attending the party and of the party itself. Nick is overwhelmed by the scene manifested at Gatsby’s party. It seems as though the only thing able to “permeate” the atmosphere is the falsehood of all that surrounds him. Upon arrival of the orchestra, Nick mentions the various instruments that are a part of the “whole pitful”: the “oboes…trombones…saxophones…piccolos…”. The endings of the names of these instruments all sound very similar, making the words flow easily when spoken. This word flow directly reveals the “constantly changing” …show more content…
Fitzgerald’s notation of the music being “yellow” reveals the falsehood encompassed by the party. Nothing appears to be still, and all of the “casual innuendo” and “enthusiastic meetings” are what cause Nick to notice the “spilled…prodigality” of the party. Fitzgerald also mentions how “the lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun”, so as to say that as the genuine light of the day “lurches away”, the artificial light “permeates” the atmosphere. The word “lurches” can imply some level of secrecy: just as the genuine light is “lurching” away, so are the truths of everyone at Gatsby’s party, almost as though they are inexistent. This notion is also implied by the “floating rounds of cocktails” that “glide on through” the party. Fitzgerald uses the word “floating” to emphasize how simulated the whole party truly is. With introductions being “forgotten on the spot” and laughter becoming more fake “minute by minute”, Fitzgerald makes it clear that Nick senses no ounce of candidness or legitimacy at the party. One aspect that seems to contribute to the façade of the party is the fluidity within it. The floating, swelling, dissolving, changing, and forming of
I have chosen to write a commentary on pages 100 to 103, Gatsby's second party because I feel it brings out true messages of the book and it portrays the more realistic, hones, darker side of the supposedly glamorous, high-class parties. It negatively shows how people are knowingly and openly breaking the law (National Prohibition Act), making fools of themselves, and putting on fronts in order to satisfy the equally false and shallow `celebrities' they wish to measure up to. Really, the only people who deserve to be admired are the truly honest ones, who are content within themselves and feel no urge to compete against the insecure status seekers. These people want to be remembered with respect and admiration, but in order to summon up the courage so speak up and be fun yet intelligent they get heavily drunk, forget about manners and etiquette and the plan to seem interesting and end up making utter fools of themselves, thereby being remembered with humiliation and pity. This party shows people as they come across throughout the book; Tom being domineering, Daisy being confused and indecisive and Gatsby still trying his ever best to impress Daisy. We can also witness the anonymity of the guests who are supposedly Gatsby's friends. Gatsby's previous party was elegant, glamorous and cheerful, whereas this one has "turned septic on the air." This party ids the antithesis on Gatsby's previous party.
excessive use of description: "at high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower of his raft, or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two-motor boats slit the waters of the sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam. " This also shows Gatsby's immense wealth of knowledge. During the build up to the party, Nick sees a variety of events taking place. place, these events help display the sheer amount of money and.
Carraway describes the atmosphere as “spilled with prodigality” (Fitzgerald 44). Gatsby’s fills his parties with wasteful extravagances like alcohol, and his efforts toward love end up as futile. The people, instead of appreciating Gatsby, backhandedly gossip about his past as a German spy, and simply partake in the alcohol being served (Fitzgerald 48). Instead of representing the upper echelon’s of 1920s’ society, in contrast to the poor, the party-goers appear weak, superficial, and unworthy of such acclaim, especially when given their tendency to gossip. With this depiction of the partiers, Fitzgerald showcases the hollow nature of 1920s society, lacking in morality and
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 by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there are several parties that take place in the novel that provide the reader with insight on the characters. At each party the reader gains new information about the major characters. At the first festivity, it is in Tom Buchanan's house in East Egg, a large and elaborate house , owned by Tom and Daisy Buchanan. Tom , Nick , Daisy , and Jordan have dinner. It is a private dinner party, and the conversation that takes place during this dinner, includes talking about other people, and Jordan enlightening Nick on Tom’s affair with Myrtle.
In the Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald the novel does not reflect an autobiography, but several of Fitzgerald’s personal experiences are reflected in it. Similarities can be drawn between the novel and Scott Fitzgeralds own life. Similarities include Gatsby and Fitzgerald 's want for success through continuous failure, dreams of success, strong feelings towards alcohol, and their love life. Nick’s qualities that relate to Fitzgerald include his honesty as a man in relation to the liars surrounding him. Also his mid western values to not be judgemental makes him a perfect observer, but also makes him the perfect outsider, which is how Fitzgerald always felt in the company of rich people. The relation between Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby
Gatsby throws lavish parties to create a image of wealth for those attending. However, the people who show up do not care about Gatsby, rather they care about the “show” he puts on through these celebrations. The party-goers are only seeking an escape, they are lured to the bright lights and excessive alcohol, like moths to a flame. Not ever paying attention to a wondering Gatsby (if in fact they even know
Hugh Hefner once said, “I looked back on the roaring Twenties, with its jazz, 'Great Gatsby' and the pre-Code films as a party I had somehow managed to miss.” The parties of the Roaring Twenties were used to symbolize wealth and power in a society that was focused more on materialism and gossip than the important things in life, like family, security, and friends. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays the characters of Tom and Daisy Buchanan as the epitome of the era. The reader sees these characters acting selfishly and trying to meddle with others’ lives. On the other hand, Nick Carraway, the narrator, acts more to help others and act honestly. Initially the reader sees Carraway’s views towards Jay Gatsby as negative as Gatsby’s actions are perceived as being like the Buchanan’s. As the novel moves forward, the reader notices a change in Carraway’s attitude towards Gatsby. Carraway sees Gatsby for whom he truly is, and that is a loving person who only became rich to win Daisy’s heart. But in this the reader also sees how corrupt and hurtful Gatsby’s actions were to the love of his life. Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy reveals that just as Gatsby’s dream of wooing Daisy is corrupted by illegalities and dishonesty, the “American Dream” of friendship and individualism has disintegrated into the simple pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasure.
The next evening was another of Gatsby’s famous parties. Anthony knew he had to keep an eye on Gatsby to make sure there was nothing else going on he wasn’t aware of. Everything had to be perfect. As he blended in, moving through the crowd of party-goers, he was bumped into. He recognized the timid looking man as Nick Carraway, Tom’s cousin-in-law. Knowing of Gatsby’s personal invitation to him, he tailed Nick, hoping he would lead him to Gatsby. As Nick perused the party, he was joined by a woman he thought he recognized. Sure enough, Anthony was pretending to be enjoying a cocktail when he heard a familiar voice.
The image of parties throughout The Great Gastby represents Fitzgerald’s belief that the American dream is only attainable in parts. These parties represent Gatsby’s grasp of superior status, which was part of his original goal to get Daisy back. To do this, however, he could not just hold a simple get-together. Gatsby had to throw the most outlandish and lavish party in town in hopes that Dai...
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.
Jay Gatsby’s many extravagant gatherings include loud music, food, and most of all, hundreds of people inside his giant mansion. This song fits perfectly with this scene because it relates to the parties that Gatsby has every weekend. When Nick received a mysterious letter addressed to him from Jay Gatsby himself, he opened it and saw that he had been invited to attend Gatsby’s party. He says, “…I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited,” (Fitzgerald 41). So Nick went to Gatsby’s giant party, wondering what it would be like. As the night went on, the orchestra, gypsies, and swimmers all had arrived. The party was filled with “swirls and eddies of people,” (Fitzgerald 42). In the song, “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody,” Fergie sings, “You don’t see one person sitting down.” This relates to the novel because Nick stated that there was a whole crowd of people that he did not know, and all of them were standing up, dancing, and socializing. As Nick walked further into Gatsby’s mansion, he decided he wanted “to get roaring drunk,” (Fitzgerald 42). Servers and waiters passed around drinks to all of the people. In the song, the lyrics are, “They got drinks in their hands and the room’s a bust,” (Fergie).
To illustrate, the parties that are hosted at Gatsby’s house are magnificent, filled with professional entertainment, music and dancers, and guests varying from politicians to movie stars. Fitzgerald paints the picture of the parties at Gatsby’s house in great detail in this passage “The bar is in full swing and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside until the air is alive with chatter and laughter and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names.” (Fitzgerald 44). It can be seen that these were extravagant parties filled with lust and alcohol. The evidence shows that no ordinary man would be throwing parties of this form, only a man with great wealth and resources would pull of such a feat.
“The Great Gatsby”, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays a world filled with rich societal happenings, love affairs, and corruption. Nick Carraway is the engaged narrator of the book, a curious choice considering that he is in a different class and almost in a different world than Gatsby and the other characters. Nick relates the plot of the story to the reader as a member of Gatsby’s circle. He has ambivalent feelings towards Gatsby, despising his personality and corrupted dream but feeling drawn to Gatsby’s magnificent capacity to hope. Using Nick as a moral guide, Fitzgerald attempts to guide readers on a journey through the novel to illustrate the corruption and failure of the American Dream. To achieve this, Nick’s credentials as a reliable narrator are carefully established and reinforced throughout the story.
The people who go to Gatsby's house on Saturday night only go to have a good time. The guests get drunk, get into fights, and act like complete idiots. This behaviour is apparent when Nick goes to one of Gatsby's parties for the first time. Nick says,