The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character Gatsby
Author's Techniques by Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald is a very diverse and interesting author to analyze. The
techniques he uses for each character or theme that he wants to
present is different from page to page, thus making him a
multifaceted.
When speaking of the title character of the book, Jay Gatsby, there
are a few specific techniques used in the layout of his features.
Gatsby doesn’t appear in the book in flesh and blood until the third
chapter of the book however by that time Nick Carraway has received
enough second hand information about him. However there is of course a
reason as to why Fitzgerald waited with the introduction of this man;
the more we waited for the Great Gatsby the larger his reputation grew
in order for us to build a predetermined view about him.
The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character
Gatsby was reputations and postponed introduction thus creating a lot
of mystery around this man. At first when Nick enters one of Gatsby’s
parties he doesn’t see the host indulging himself in the luxuries of
the crowd, food and music though instead he is nowhere to be seen.
This is a very surprising enigma for Nick since generally you would
presume that whoever has this much wealth would thrive in showing it
off to his guests. On top of this, you have a lot of rumors
circulating every one of his parties. Catherine McKee once said that
Gatsby is “the son of Kaiser Wilhelm”, the current ruler of Germany.
Of course every speculation made was false however as Nick heard them
all, his anticipations for their meeting grew. This is a clever
technique since not only does it enhance Gatsby’s character importance
in the novel though it shows how little the supporting characters of
the book knows him.
We hear all sorts of rumors about how Gatsby acquired his wealth
however not until chapter VII do we have definite proof of how his
money came about. On page 140, two thirds into the book, Tom confronts
Jay about who he really is. It is during that event where Tom throws
all the facts about his bootlegging in Jay’s face ‘I found out what
your “drug-stores” were-‘ He turned to us and spoke rapidly. ‘He and
this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in
Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his
little stunts…..’What about it? said Gatsby politely. ‘I guess your
friend Walter Chase wasn’t too proud to come in on it.
In Nick’s meeting with Gatsby and Wolfsheim, it is revealed that Gatsby is involved with shady business (bootlegging) and that the reason Wolfsheim likes Gatsby so much is that he appears to be the perfect gentleman, a person who would never even look at his friend’s wife. Gatsby has the face of a handsome gentleman but is willing to become covertly involved with gangsters in order to become rich. Gatsby aids the cruelty of the underground organization, which rigs sports games and does other illicit things, but, on the surface, Gatsby appears to be upper-class, almost like an East Egger. The public seems to find it strange that Gatsby, who appears to be a gentleman, lives on West Egg, and thus constantly speculates often ridiculous stories about Gatsby’s origins. Fitzgerald does this to show that, even though people may not be able to see past the disguise of beauty, they may unsuccessfully speculate the
Of course Nick is going to talk to him before he makes any assumptions. Even though Gatsby is one to easily be judged based off of his lavish lifestyle and looks. It’s important here because Gatsby asks Nick for his opinion of himself, but before he gets the opinion he wants to tell Nick his story before he hears nonsense from anyone else. While listening to Gatsby talk about his past, Nick starts to slip. In this passage Nick is talking about how he reacted to Gatsby be so called past, “With an effort I managed to restrain my incredulous laughter. The very phrases were worn so threadbare that they evoked no image except that of a turbaned ‘character’ leaking sawdust at every pore as he pursued a tiger through the Bois de Boulogne.” (Fitzgerald 66). However before talking to Gatsby Nick says, “So my first impression, that he was a person of some undefined consequence, had gradually faded and he had become simply the proprietor of an elaborate road-house next door.” (Fitzgerald 64). Nick judged Gatsby, based off of his appearance and what he had seen next door. Of course, Nick doesn't own up to that, he uses the word impression instead of
The information that Nick leaves out is a result of him blacking out because of the amount of alcohol that he has had. The overindulgent parties thrown during this period of time are another result of the population being a part of the Lost Generation. In the article, All men are [not] created equal, Claire Stocks writes about Gatsby’s wealth and how it contributes to the parties that he throws. Stocks voices her opinion that Gatsby’s home and his parties “act out the role of the millionaire as he shows off his wealth” (Stocks). Gatsby abuses his wealth and his power in order to throw these over the top parties whenever he wants to.
The Great Gatsby was one of many creative stories F. Scott Fitzgerald successfully wrote during his era. The 1920’s brought new things to Fitzgerald and his newly wedded wife, but once all the fame and glamour ended so did they. Fitzgerald’s life eventually came crashing down in depression and misery following the 1920’s, and he would never be the same. Fitzgerald became very vulnerable to this era and could not control himself, which came back to haunt him. Fitzgerald wrote the book in first person limited, and used Nick as his narrator to explain the dramatic story which revolved around the life of Jay Gatsby. Nick told of the roaring 1920’s, and how the wealthy people of New York lived and prospered, just like Fitzgerald. Drinking, partying,
Green, Stanley, and Cary Ginell. Broadway Musicals Show by Show. 7th. Milwaukee: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, 2011. Print. (Green and Ginell )
Though the story is told from Nick’s point of view, the reader gets many perspectives of Gatsby from different characters. One can see from characters like Jordan Baker -Nick’s girlfriend through the majority of the novel, or Tom- the husband of Nick’s cousin Daisy; that Gatsby is not as good as everyone where to think. Based on how these characters act and feel about Mr. Gatsby it is evident that they dislike him to some extent, showing a bit more of a flawed human side of him. Tom is quoted saying “I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong.” about Gatsby depicting Tom’s harsh feelings towards him and showing the reader Tom’s negative feelings about Gatsby. Because the story is told from Nick’s point of view, Gatsby is still painted as this mysterious man because Nick is a bit curious of him and does not know Gatsby in the beginning. ‘"They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together."’ Nick says to Gatsby, showing that he thinks he is worth more than Daisy, Tom, or the other characters. With this quote one can infer that Nick holds Gatsby on a bit of a high platform than the other characters, giving the reader Nick’s indirect characterization of
By meeting Gatsby Nick has changed for the better. His ideas and actions. all start to change. He becomes very genuine. Sometime after the party Nick says "I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. " Gatsby, p. 41. said this because most of the people at Gatsby's parties were just invited. themselves. This is the time when Nick's character is showing some.
Gatsby yearns to be part of the high society, but, in reality, he is an outsider to his social class. An important note for this is that he is a very wealthy person and has an expensive mansion, yet he lives on East Egg, while the “real” high society people live on West Egg. Near the end of the novel, Nick showed the reader that he was one of Gatsby’s only real friends; it showed when Nick was one of the only three people that attended his funeral. Nick seems to be more or less the only one who cares about him after his death.
The 1920’s was a time of prosperity, woman’s rights, and bootleggers. F. Scott Fitzgerald truly depicts the reality of this era with The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby, an enormously wealthy man, is famous for his extravagant parties and striking residence. However, this is all that is known about Gatsby. Even his closest friends continue to wonder what kind of man Gatsby actually is. The mysteriousness of Gatsby is demonstrated by conceivable gossip, his random departures, and the missing parts of his past.
“The great Gatsby” is an inspiring novel written by the famous American author Scott Fitzgerald. The novel was published in 1925. It is regarded as Scott’s supreme achievement and also as a masterwork in American literature, and it’s entirely justified.
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Nick is our narrator and the voice of reason in a time and place where parties are the goals and having a good time is all that matters. Parties at Gatsby’s mansion are the rule not the exception and all who attend pay homage to their false prophet Gatsby. He is their leader the charming man living in a mansion and driving and awesome care. Too bad he has no sense of real worth. Yet nick seems to be loyal to him the whole time “They're a rotten crowd, “I shouted across the lawn. “You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.”I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end. First he nodded politely, and then his face broke into that radiant and understanding smile, as if we’d been in ecstatic cahoots on that fact all the time” (Pg 162). Nick appears on the sidelines more than in the mix with all the drinkers and boasters and unfaithful spouses. “I forgot to ask you something,...
At the beginning of the book Nick sees Gatsby as a mysterious shady man. In the beginning of the chapter Nick somewhat resents Gatsby. In Nick’s opinion Gatsby was the representation of “…everything for which I have unaffected scorn.” (Fitzgerald 2). Nick sees Gatsby as what he hates the most in life, rich folk. Since the start of the novel it was obvious that had “Disapproved of him from beginning to end.” (Fitzgerald 154). As time passes, Nick realizes his neighbor has quite a mysterious past. Some think he’s a bootlegger, and a different person wa...
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