A Book Review of The Great Gatsby
A novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby follows the life of Nick Carraway in 1920’s Long Island, New York. A veteran from World War I, Nick tries to fit in with the socialite life of New York during the roaring twenties. Written in an unforgettable style, Fitzgerald’s eloquence is well exhibited in this book. A vivid description of life during an economic peak, the people Nick begin to associate with turn out to be people he didn’t really know all too well. Jay Gatsby really turns out being just James Gatz, and that James Gatz is a bootlegger, among other things, surprise Nick as he lives his life in West Egg. There isn’t much to dislike about this novel—the era is interesting, the language is elegant yet lucid, and the characters are relatable. What stood out, in my opinion, is the ash-ridden valley that Nick drives through. Almost a metaphor of what people have to go through before they can truly succeed, this scene creates a sense of uncertainty. The billboard with the big eyes wearing glasses, an advertisement for optometry, can also loosely be interpreted as a “big brother is watching” type of ordeal, implying the prohibition laws that the government had passed during this time. A work that combines a great deal of elegant diction, cultural style, and a meaningful purpose is what drives this book to become one of the greats to be loved for generations to come.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I am...Nick Carraway...
Text Connections in The Great Gatsby
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, a text-to-self connection is made within the context of the character and narrator Nick Carraway. A man of humble means, Nick is surrounded by a society of extravagance, excess, and lucrative interests; A society where things of reckless nature tempt those who waiver in its path. Nick’s bashfulness is shown when he narrates “If she saw me out of the corner of her eyes she gave no hint of it—indeed, I was almost surprised into murmuring an apology for having disturbed her by coming in” (8). These certain qualities are some that I find in myself, a man of different societal status struggling to fit in and absorb the culture that surrounds him. Despite scandals involving relationships and the death of a close friend, I still see a little bit of myself in Nick Carraway.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, a text-to-self connection is made within the context of the character and narrator Nick Carraway. A man of humble means, Nick is surrounded by a society of extravagance, excess, and lucrative interests; A society where things of reckless nature tempt those who waiver in its path. Nick’s bashfulness is shown when he narrates “If she saw me out of the corner of her eyes she gave no hint of it—indeed, I was almost surprised into murmuring an apology for having disturbed her by coming in” (8). These certain qualities are some that I find in myself, a man of different societal status struggling to fit in and absorb the culture that surrounds him. Despite scandals involving relationships and the death of a close friend, I still see a little bit of myself in Nick Carraway.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Style and Purpose make for great Syntax
Syntax in The Great Gatsby
• The syntax Fitzgerald uses influences his style to create a clearer image of the era. When waiting for attendees to show up at a tea party, his syntax is shown when Nick narrates “Under the dripping bare lilac-trees a large open car was coming up the drive. It stopped. Daisy’s face, tipped sideways beneath a three-cornered lavender hat, looked out at me with a bright ecstatic smile” (85). This example shows a lighter, mistier view of the era, a look into that fashion of the time, and the emotion Daisy feels as she arrives. This syntax shows the style of Fitzgerald as nostalgic, almost reminiscent of a time where things were simpler. A century piece, no doubt.
• Later inside the tea party, another example of syntax is given as is narrated “Amid the welcome confusion of cups and cakes a certain physical decency established itself. Gatsby got himself into a shadow and, while Daisy and I talked, looked conscientiously from one to the other of us with tense, unhappy eyes” (87). A somewhat gloomy tone, Fitzgerald provides a dismal sentence using words like “confusion”, “tense”, “unhappy”, and “shadow”. This certain sentence shows a great deal of effort in word choice, merging the ideas into one cohesive thought.
• As the true identity of Jay Gatsby, James Gatz, is revealed, we learn that through excellent syntax, a somewhat “perfect” character becomes a little bit more human and realistic. Nick narrates “The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night. A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the washstand and the moon soaked with wet light his tangled clothes upon the floor” (99). The anguish James Gatz has to endure as he deceives those around him reveals Fitzgerald’s purpose for an archetype Christ-like figure.
• The syntax Fitzgerald uses influences his style to create a clearer image of the era. When waiting for attendees to show up at a tea party, his syntax is shown when Nick narrates “Under the dripping bare lilac-trees a large open car was coming up the drive. It stopped. Daisy’s face, tipped sideways beneath a three-cornered lavender hat, looked out at me with a bright ecstatic smile” (85). This example shows a lighter, mistier view of the era, a look into that fashion of the time, and the emotion Daisy feels as she arrives. This syntax shows the style of Fitzgerald as nostalgic, almost reminiscent of a time where things were simpler. A century piece, no doubt.
• Later inside the tea party, another example of syntax is given as is narrated “Amid the welcome confusion of cups and cakes a certain physical decency established itself. Gatsby got himself into a shadow and, while Daisy and I talked, looked conscientiously from one to the other of us with tense, unhappy eyes” (87). A somewhat gloomy tone, Fitzgerald provides a dismal sentence using words like “confusion”, “tense”, “unhappy”, and “shadow”. This certain sentence shows a great deal of effort in word choice, merging the ideas into one cohesive thought.
• As the true identity of Jay Gatsby, James Gatz, is revealed, we learn that through excellent syntax, a somewhat “perfect” character becomes a little bit more human and realistic. Nick narrates “The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night. A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the washstand and the moon soaked with wet light his tangled clothes upon the floor” (99). The anguish James Gatz has to endure as he deceives those around him reveals Fitzgerald’s purpose for an archetype Christ-like figure.
Leading Diction to Tone like a Horse to Water
Diction for The Great Gatsby
• Fitzgerald exhibits his rather unusual tone through various types of diction. While at the Buchanan house, Nick refers to Miss Baker likening him to a rose, in which he responded rather tersely “This was untrue. I am not even faintly like a rose…” (14). This soon changes to a passionate tone in which he says “…a stirring warmth flowed from her, as if her heart was trying to come out to you concealed in one of those breathless, thrilling words” (14). This type of diction shows the changing emotions a young person may feel in a completely different location than they are accustomed to, as is the case with Midwestern-American Nick.
• At most times, Fitzgerald uses an advanced, scholarly diction that is rather intelligent, without being convoluted or frustrating. Later at a party, Nick describes Mrs. Wilson with excruciating detail, as he narrates “The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur” (30). This diction provides a fervent tone, one that clearly shows what Nick feels and what Fitzgerald intends.
• In an vivacious moment of imagery, the diction Fitzgerald uses denotes a dreamy, relaxed quality that quickly turns sour when Nick narrates “The late afternoon sky bloomed in the window for a moment like the blue honey of the Mediterranean—then the shrill voice of Mrs. McKee called me back into the room” (34). The placid, almost nirvana-like state that Fitzgerald illustrates exhibits a tone of peace, through elegant diction.
• Fitzgerald exhibits his rather unusual tone through various types of diction. While at the Buchanan house, Nick refers to Miss Baker likening him to a rose, in which he responded rather tersely “This was untrue. I am not even faintly like a rose…” (14). This soon changes to a passionate tone in which he says “…a stirring warmth flowed from her, as if her heart was trying to come out to you concealed in one of those breathless, thrilling words” (14). This type of diction shows the changing emotions a young person may feel in a completely different location than they are accustomed to, as is the case with Midwestern-American Nick.
• At most times, Fitzgerald uses an advanced, scholarly diction that is rather intelligent, without being convoluted or frustrating. Later at a party, Nick describes Mrs. Wilson with excruciating detail, as he narrates “The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur” (30). This diction provides a fervent tone, one that clearly shows what Nick feels and what Fitzgerald intends.
• In an vivacious moment of imagery, the diction Fitzgerald uses denotes a dreamy, relaxed quality that quickly turns sour when Nick narrates “The late afternoon sky bloomed in the window for a moment like the blue honey of the Mediterranean—then the shrill voice of Mrs. McKee called me back into the room” (34). The placid, almost nirvana-like state that Fitzgerald illustrates exhibits a tone of peace, through elegant diction.
Rhetorical Strategies and other tasty bits of literary gold.
Rhetorical Strategies in The Great Gatsby
• Simile: “If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away” (2).
• Imagery: “Her gray sun-strained eyes looked back at me with polite reciprocal curiosity out of a wan, charming, discontented face” (11).
• Onomatopoeia: “Almost before I had grasped her meaning there was the flutter of a dress and the crunch of leather boots, and Tom and Daisy were back at the table” (15).
• Parallelism: “The lamp-light, bright on his boots and dull on the autumn-leaf yellow of her hair, glinted along the paper as she turned a page with a flutter of slender muscles in her arms” (17).
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby follows the life of Nick Carraway, a newcomer to West Egg, Long Island. He befriends millionaire Jay Gatsby and lives a socialite lifestyle as one of Gatsby’s companions. In a simile comparing Gatsby to an intricate machine, Fitzgerald captures the culture and time of the Jazz age, which starts after World War I. The increasing technological advances of the era are shown through this, which defines Fitzgerald style as heavily influenced by the society around him. A source of imagery describes Miss Baker with impeccable detail, her beauty juxtaposed with the anguish she has. An example of onomatopoeia illustrates the clothing both Tom and Daisy were wearing, a flutter and crunch providing sound. A use of parallelism shows the difference light can have on shadowing, luminescent yet dull simultaneously. These examples exhibit Fitzgerald style as one that is heavily 1920’s.
• Simile: “If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life, as if he were related to one of those intricate machines that register earthquakes ten thousand miles away” (2).
• Imagery: “Her gray sun-strained eyes looked back at me with polite reciprocal curiosity out of a wan, charming, discontented face” (11).
• Onomatopoeia: “Almost before I had grasped her meaning there was the flutter of a dress and the crunch of leather boots, and Tom and Daisy were back at the table” (15).
• Parallelism: “The lamp-light, bright on his boots and dull on the autumn-leaf yellow of her hair, glinted along the paper as she turned a page with a flutter of slender muscles in her arms” (17).
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby follows the life of Nick Carraway, a newcomer to West Egg, Long Island. He befriends millionaire Jay Gatsby and lives a socialite lifestyle as one of Gatsby’s companions. In a simile comparing Gatsby to an intricate machine, Fitzgerald captures the culture and time of the Jazz age, which starts after World War I. The increasing technological advances of the era are shown through this, which defines Fitzgerald style as heavily influenced by the society around him. A source of imagery describes Miss Baker with impeccable detail, her beauty juxtaposed with the anguish she has. An example of onomatopoeia illustrates the clothing both Tom and Daisy were wearing, a flutter and crunch providing sound. A use of parallelism shows the difference light can have on shadowing, luminescent yet dull simultaneously. These examples exhibit Fitzgerald style as one that is heavily 1920’s.
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