Fitzgerald's Misconceived Portrayals -- Personal Review

      Although F. Scott Fitzgerald’s realistic portrayal of the environment of the roaring twenties was accurate, he unfortunately became a little extremist in his portrayal of the people occupying that upscale environment. A recurring theme in the book is the greediness of the rich—the fact that they are never satisfied with life and always possess the desire to attain more. Though this is true, Fitzgerald fails to note that it is not only the rich who exhibit gluttony, but that by nature, all people want to enhance their way of life. Since the rhetor only focused on the higher classes and their endless selfishness, the reader lacks the balance that would be present if there had been some poorer characters. It seemed as though each person in the novel was already at the top of the social ladder; this did not allow for much growth in the characters. However, the speaker did effectively demonstrate what it feels like to be hopelessly in love with someone, no matter how different the two people may be. Daisy, a whimsical airhead (pardon my judgment), is in love with Gatsby, a confused yet loyal man. The two people cannot be more different, but the way in which the author portrayed their love came across as organic and natural, without any forced emotion. Overall, the book was a little stagnant in reference to the characters’ actions, but the plot was motivating and allowed for further thought in regards to going after what one wants in life and avoiding the obstacles that get in the way.

Nick Equals Holden -- Text-to-text Connection

         The character of Nick Carraway in Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby can be likened to Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. Holden, an adolescent teenager, goes through his troubled life in constant question of what childhood means; he endlessly searches for a way to retain his innocence. Unfortunately, Holden’s social ineptitude prohibits him from being honest with himself, much like Nick’s quality of not being able to grasp the idea of romantic love. Throughout Salinger’s timeless definition of how it feels to come to terms with adulthood, Holden ignores his feelings and instead keeps trying to prove all the “manly” things he can do, such as drinking alcohol and hiring prostitutes. Holden also describes certain flashbacks in intricate detail then abruptly changes the subject and acts as if that event was insignificant. However, it is easy for the reader to notice the sentiment behind his words, even if Holden chooses to hide those feelings from himself. Nick resembles Holden when he first describes his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom. He goes into elaborate detail about why the couple decided to move to East Egg, their individual life stories, and the lack of love he sees between them. Immediately following his in-depth description of Tom and Daisy, Nick puts forth: “And so it happened that on a warm windy evening [he] drove over to East Egg to see two old friends whom [he] scarcely knew at all” (Fitzgerald 6). By proclaiming that he barely knows two people who he just described in great detail proves Nick’s social awkwardness and lack of desire to be perceived as caring and observant. Rather, Nick forces himself to act unaffected by his emotional attachments, just like Holden’s incapability to openly show emotion. Both are caught in a cycle of understating how much people and events mean to them; however, they feel admitting that they do in fact care seems weak and degrading and would thus rather remain neutral on the outside even if something is meaningful to them on the inside. Another instance when Nick tries to conceal emotion is when he speaks of the relationship between his friend Gatsby and Daisy. It is apparent that the two are deeply in love and want to be together, yet Nick chooses to heartlessly assert that “[Gatsby] felt married to her, that was all” (149). Coldly stating “that was all” solidifies Nick’s inability to cope with tender emotion. He wants to disregard love and act as if it means absolutely nothing. As with Holden, who has issues identifying and appreciating love, Nick pretends that nothing serious is happening between Gatsby and Daisy, when in reality, they want nothing more than to be together for the rest of their lives. In the end, Nick pushes away his chance at love out of fear, as does Holden, because of their aversions to emotion. Throughout Gatsby, Nick mirrors Holden’s incapability to cope with love and ends up hiding his true emotions from everyone around him, including himself.

Hiding Behind Money -- Syntax

      In The Great Gatsby, the author’s varied sentence structure describing Gatsby’s splendor communicates his idea that false appearances, especially among the upper class, are common in society due to the inborn desire of people to impress others and be at the top of the social ladder. When Nick speaks of Gatsby’s house in West Egg, he proclaims it to be “a colossal affair by any standard—it was a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden. It was Gatsby’s mansion” (Fitzgerald 5). The inclusion of a long, descriptive sentence followed by a telegraphic one asserts the awe that Nick feels—he is speechless at Gatsby’s extravagance. Dashes and excessive commas lend themselves to the fact that Nick is so mesmerized that he cannot remain on the same thought for too long; there is so much to be admired that his scattered thoughts appear to be the only way to convey his excitement. Simply referring to all the greatness by noting “it was Gatsby’s mansion” (5) hints at Nick’s reminder to himself that he needs to act unimpressed and pretends it is normal to see such richness on a daily basis. As illustrated, it is difficult for the rich to accept each other’s prosperity, and thus they constantly feel the need to have more than anyone else; yet when they are outdone by something they feign disinterest. Fitzgerald’s point is also revealed when Nick states: “people were not invited [to Gatsby’s parties]—they went there” (41). Nick’s bold statement that anyone who wants to can attend Gatsby’s outrageous parties reinforces the author’s belief that the rich are never satisfied; it is hard for Nick to accept that Gatsby is able to house such sophisticated and diverse parties—he would rather silently deride Gatsby for his popularity than praise him. Recurring utilization of dashes interjects what could be a compliment and instead turn into a negative, chiding comment. In contrast to Nick, Gatsby finally admits what no one else has the gumption to say: he recognizes that someone else is richer than him. When Gatsby mentions out of context that his love, Daisy, has a “voice [that] is full of money” (120), the reader is caught off guard at the unconventional honesty Gatsby presents. The startling employment of a short sentence causes a volta and allows the reader to connect with Gatsby. At last, someone is able to come to terms with the fact that someone is richer then they are, and therefore the juxtaposition between Nick and Gatsby effectively highlights the author’s view that it is rare for the rich to accept being inferior, let alone admit that it exists in society.

East Egg Snobs -- Diction

      Throughout the novel, the author’s use of contrasting diction regarding the different classes of people in New York effectively portrays his mocking tone, establishing his belief that although the older money in eastern New York firmly attests that they are of higher social class than the newer money in western New York, the two classes of people are in fact similar and possess few discrepancies. For example, when Tom forcefully asks Nick to meet his mistress, Nick denies the offer; however, Tom does not cease his insistence, and Nick comments that “the supercilious assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do” (Fitzgerald 24). Tom’s haughtiness is evident by the way Nick describes his demands as “supercilious,” yet Nick’s biting thoughts also reveal that he too believes that whatever he is doing is more important than what anyone else is doing, including Tom. Tom is condescending and inconsiderate, as noted by his rude “assumption” that Nick does not have prior commitments; however, Nick jointly expresses that same characteristic by acting as if Tom’s desires are not worth his time. Though Tom may feel that he is of higher status than Nick, Nick simultaneously illustrates the same quality of misconceived hierarchy, proving that both are naïve, self-centered people that deserve the author’s mocking. Also, when Nick recalls the types of people he met (or heard of) at Gatsby’s parties, he notes that some people from East Egg “always gathered in a corner and flipped up their noses like goats at whosoever came near” (62). By employing the word “goats,” the reader can sense Nick’s aversion to the proud East Egg people that go to Gatsby’s parties. Referring to these people as “goats” lessens their supposed superiority and in turn humorously ridicules that they are immature snobs who put forth that they are of higher class than everyone else, but in reality have no substance behind their claim. On the other end of the spectrum, but also of East Egg money, is a man at Gatsby’s party who is “so drunk out on the gravel drive that [a woman’s] automobile ran over his right hand” (62). The author’s choice to mention the incident with the automobile further reinforces the fact that although East Egg people put on an esteemed façade, they are identical in nature to the West Egg inhabitants; this proves that people are all alike no matter what sort of financial background they come from. Nick also mentions that there were some people from West Egg who “came to gamble” (62). Using the statement that they simply “came to gamble” justifies the reality that the West Egg people are relatively low-mannered. It is ironic that even though both parties are being ill-mannered, each one still retains the notion that they are better than the other, when in truth, both sides are being unsophisticated “goats.” Through the use of comparative and contrasting diction, the rhetor creates a mocking tone intended to unite the East and West eggs and help them realize that they are not all that different from each other despite their inaccurate, unrelenting opinions.

Rhetorical Devices in Gatsby -- Rhetorical Strategies

·         Homily: “‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one…just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had’” (Fitzgerald 1). The inclusion of such a powerful moral suggestion sets the preface for the meaning behind the novel—where judgement is a recurring theme between people of different statuses in life. This advice serves to be a reminder to readers, and to the main character, that one cannot know the true nature of a person and therefore does not have the authority to make assumptions based on what is perceived face value.  

·         Metaphor: “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer” (4). Fitzgerald’s likening of life to the summer symbolizes rebirth. The notion that summer brings new beginnings every time it comes, as well as bringing hope, helps the author establish that the narrator is embarking on a new stage in life. This metaphor jointly aids the reader’s ability to see that Nick, the narrator, has left behind one part of his life to go see what new opportunities and adventures lie ahead.

·         Personification: “Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward” (7). By employing such a bold personification of a pair of eyes, the rhetor effectively portrays the cold nature of Tom, an East Egg snob. This rhetorical device exemplifies Tom’s haughty personality by making him come across as overbearing and condescending.

·         Polysyndeton: “This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (23). Excessive conjunctions convey the writer’s intentional discrepancy between East Egg New York and West Egg New York. Fitzgerald purposely includes several “ands” in order to vividly pronounce how different and “grotesque” West Egg is compared to the cultured, high society that exists in the East Egg.

·          Imagery: “The interior was unprosperous and bare; the only car visible was the dust-covered wreck of a Ford which crouched in a dim corner” (25). The scene painted here is one of monotony and evokes a sense of the dismal poor of West Egg. The author is trying to convey to the reader that there is a large gap between how he writes about East Egg people and how he illustrates the sad, gloomy nature of West Egg people.

·         Invective: “‘He’s so dumb he doesn’t know he’s alive’” (26). Using such derogatory language confirms the superiority that Tom feels towards others; Tom is from East Egg and therefore has the idea that he is better than others, especially those of the newer money in New York (West Egg). This quote from Tom reinforces the author’s contrast between old rich and new rich, and serves to depict the snobbish personality of Tom.

·         Periodic Sentence: “With Jordan’s slender golden arm resting in mine, we descended the steps and sauntered about the garden” (43). By putting the main point of the sentence at the end, the author creates suspense that has the effect of simultaneous anticipation of both the reader and Nick. With such a descriptive beginning to the sentence, the reader is left wanting more and awaits finding out what Nick is bracing himself for—which is ultimately his first party at Jay Gatsby’s mansion.

·         Bathos: “Then came the war, old sport. It was a great relief, and I tried very hard to die, but I seemed to bear an enchanted life” (66). The author’s choice to incorporate bathos communicates the over-the-top personality of Gatsby; Gatsby wants pity and for people to believe his contrived life story. The drastic words “great,” “very,” and “bear” intensify the pitiful sympathy that Gatsby is trying to make Nick feel for him, and the speaker comes across as weak and pathetic.

·         Oxymoron: “A succulent hash arrived, and Mr. Wolfsheim, forgetting the more sentimental atmosphere of the old Metropole, began to eat with ferocious delicacy” (71). Using an oxymoron to describe the minute details of how Mr. Wolfsheim eats serves to characterize him and aids the reader to go into further depth. Fitzgerald’s attention to such unimportant quirks reinforces his style of making each character full, so as no part of the character’s personality is left to question. By claiming that Wolfsheim eats with “ferocious delicacy,” the reader assumes that Wolfsheim is not a poised man but that he attempts to be one.

·         Foreshadowing: “…the clear voices of little girls, already gathered like crickets on the grass, rose through the hot twilight: I’m the Sheik of Araby. Your love belongs to me. At night when you’re asleep Into your tent I’ll creep—” (78). At this point in the novel, Jordan Baker, Nick’s friend, explains to Nick that Gatsby and Daisy, Tom’s wife, have known each other for years and are deeply in love. The inconspicuous act of having children sing about what is going to happen later in the book allows the author to hint at the main plot without having one of the characters outright mention it. One can infer that Gatsby and Daisy will reunite and that their feelings will still be the same for each other after all the years that have gone by.

• Symbolism: “The day agreed upon was pouring rain… [Gatsby] was pale, and there were dark 

     signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes…The rain cooled about half-past three to a damp mist,

      through which occasional thin drops swam like dew. Gatsby looked with vacant eyes through a copy

      of Clay’s Economics, staring…and peering toward the bleared windows… [then,] there was a

     change in Gatsby that was simply confounding. He literally glowed…and there were twinkle-bells of

     sunshine in the room” (83-89). On this day, Gatsby is finally meeting Daisy for the first time in several

      years. His nervousness conquers him, yet he does not allow it to stop him from achieving his goal of

      reuniting with his true love. The author’s choice to mirror the weather with Gatsby’s emotions

      seamlessly communicates his nervousness and solemnity to the reader without explicitly stating how

     Gatsby is feeling; the tension caused by the undesirable weather conditions causes not only

     anticipation for Gatsby, but also anticipation for the reader.