Gatsby in my Opinion

            The Great Gatsby, may be great to others, however, it is not one of my favorites. I understand when people say they like the way that Fitzgerald wrote it, and the tragic love story between Daisy and Gatsby. To me, that is not my cup of tea, the book lacked excitement and conflict, two things I think completes a climax. Plus I dislike it for the sheer reason of stirring up a debate, or may I say, causing conflict. In my opinion, the climax worked up with the death of Mrs. Wilson, and the tension increases as Mr. Wilson figures out who killed his wife. That is when the zenith of the story should have continued, following Wilson on his mission to kill Gatsby, and included a dialogue of Gatsby valiantly giving his life for his love, Daisy. Now that is a “Great Gatsby”, however some may enjoy the mystery of what happened and may like to make up the scene themselves as I have just done. Or maybe they believe that would ruin the style of the book, removing some of the mist surrounding Gatsby’s life and death. On a good note, I did enjoy the subtle humor and the other emotions evoked in me from the text. Such as the smile that was slapped on my face from one of my favorite quotes on Gatsby “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.”(Fitzgerald 154). This quote to me really captures the essence of a good friend, and it really emphasizes the relationship between Nick and Gatsby. It reminds me of my childhood friend and neighbor, but that is a different essay. I commend Fitzgerald on his excellent ability to make these characters so real, that they can make people feel happy or sad based on his words. That ability is an amazing one to possess which brings me to my conclusion. Like I said before the book may not be my favorite, but it is still a great story.

Gatsby Tone

·      “…signed by Jay Gatsby, in a majestic hand.” (Fitzgerald 41)

·      “We hadn’t reached West Egg Village before Gatsby began leaving his elegant sentences unfinished and slapping himself indecisively on the knee of his caramel-colored suit.” (Fitzgerald 64)

·      “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.”(Fitzgerald 154)

Fitzgerald uses specific word choice in his book, The Great Gatsby, to emphasize and create dramatic tones. For example, in a sentence describing Gatsby’s signature, he states, “…Signed by Jay Gatsby, in a majestic hand.” (Fitzgerald 41). The fact that Fitzgerald says “elegant” creates a royal or “old money tone” thus completing the illusion Gatsby was trying to create to please Daisy. Another instance of this is when Nick and Gatsby are going for a drive and Fitzgerald writes, “We hadn’t reached West Egg Village before Gatsby began leaving his elegant sentences unfinished and slapping himself indecisively on the knee of his caramel-colored suit.” (Fitzgerald 64).  When Fitzgerald uses words such as “unfinished” or “Indecisively” to describe Gatsby, it is a change in his character. Thus creating almost a uncivilized tone. Then, the reader then realizes that he only maintains this disguise in East Egg where Daisy lives. However, Fitzgerald wanted to maintain the character of Gatsby as a good man and friend. The night before Gatsby’s death, Fitzgerald describes him, “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.”(Fitzgerald 154). The meaningful words “radiant” and “ecstatic” create a happy and comforting mood for the reader. Nick and Gatsby’s friendship is strengthened by this tone, only to have it shatter the next day, thus exemplifying the drama in the book. Just another tool in Fitzgerald’s literary toolbelt.

Gatsby to Gatsby (text to itself)

            Daisy, the main female character, is part of a conflict between Gatsby and Tom. She is the treasure that both men are after, her voice is described twice in the book, one very different than the other. “Daisy began to sing the music in a husky, rhythmic whisper, bringing out a meaning in each word that it had never before and would never have again…each change tipped out a little of her warm human magic upon the air.” (Fitzgerald 108). This description brings out a powerful and almost mystical feeling to her voice. Her voice was described this way when she was entering Gatsby’s house for a party, suggesting that she is acting in the “new money” mannerisms when she is around Gatsby. This quote as compared to this one, “[Her voice]…was full of money—that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it…”(Fitzgerald 120). Suggests that her voice changes depending on who she’s with at the time. With Gatsby it is a laid back and fun, confidant voice. With Tom she sounds like royalty or “the kings daughter”.

Gatsby syntax

·      Periodic sentence- “The crowd—it was now a crowd—stepped back involuntarily, and when the door had opened wide there was a ghostly pause. Then gradually, part by part, a pale, dangling individual stepped out of the wreck, pawing tentatively at the ground with a large uncertain dancing shoe” (Fitzgerald page 54)

·      “it was full of money—that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it…High in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl.” (Fitzgerald 120)

·      “He left, feeling that if her had searched harder, he might have found her—that he was leaving her behind.” (Fitzgerald 153)

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby, syntax is used in such a way to add another level to the book. In other words, it creates a deeper plot and more clues are revealed. An instance of this is when a car is crashed at one of Gatsby’s parties. “The crowd—it was now a crowd—stepped back involuntarily, and when the door had opened wide there was a ghostly pause. Then gradually, part by part, a pale, dangling individual stepped out of the wreck, pawing tentatively at the ground with a large uncertain dancing shoe” (Fitzgerald page 54). The periodic sentence creates a sense of mystery surrounding Gatsby’s house and who resides within it. Also it hints to the “mask” Gatsby is wearing to impress Daisy, which he is wishing will attend one of his parties. Gatsby cares very much for Daisy when he was young and all the way to his untimely death. When he was younger he had to stop searching for her. “He left, feeling that if her had searched harder, he might have found her—that he was leaving her behind.” (Fitzgerald 153). The dash marks a point in the sentence where Gatsby wants to say “He left, feeling that he was leaving her behind.” Instead of the actual sentence, this reveals a great love for Daisy by Gatsby. It can never be however, Gatsby is new-money, Daisy is old-money. Even her voice is full of money, “it was full of money—that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals’ song of it…High in a white palace the king’s daughter, the golden girl.” (Fitzgerald 120). This Quote mentions “kings daughter” signifying that Daisy inherited her money where as Gatsby made his. The different life-styles made by this are not compatible, like “a pair of star-cross’d lovers” their love was doomed from the start. All of these clues and plot actions were revealed by the writer’s clever use of syntax.

Gatsby Rhetorical Strategies

·      Asyndeton-  “The crowd—it was now a crowd—stepped back involuntarily, and when the door had opened wide there was a ghostly pause. Then gradually, part by part, a pale, dangling individual stepped out of the wreck, pawing tentatively at the ground with a large uncertain dancing shoe” (Fitzgerald page 54)

·      Simile- “Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete” (Fitzgerald page 111)

·      Simile- “A new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about… like that ashen, fantastic figure gliding toward him through the amorphous trees.” (Fitzgerald page 161)

·      Metaphor- “…Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees—he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder” (Fitzgerald 110)

·      Foreshadowing- “ ‘Go away now, old sport?’ ‘Go to Atlantic City for a week, or up to Montreal.’ ”(Fitzgerald 148)

            Style is an opinion of the writer and the reader combined. It essentially is an idea or situation proposed by the writer, and it is reacted too by the reader thus the creation of style. Fitzgerald’s style is ever-changing based on what he is talking about and how far in the book you are. Firstly, in the beginning of the book, Fitzgerald uses an asyndeton to express the sheer elementary drunkenness of this man. His style in the excerpt is slow, and simple, like the man. “The crowd—it was now a crowd—stepped back involuntarily, and when the door had opened wide there was a ghostly pause. Then gradually, part by part, a pale, dangling individual stepped out of the wreck, pawing tentatively at the ground with a large uncertain dancing shoe” (Fitzgerald page 54). However, his style is not always slow and simple, it becomes elegant and almost ritualistic when he describes a scene with Gatsby and Daisy, “Then he kissed her. At his lips’ touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete” (Fitzgerald page 111). His style, even though he does not mention any surroundings, makes a picture and creates a feeling in the reader’s head. Lastly, after Gatsby dies, his style turns for the serious and solemn. As he describes the scene of Gatsby’s death, he uses many rhetorical devices, “A new world, material without being real, where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about… like that ashen, fantastic figure gliding toward him through the amorphous trees.” (Fitzgerald page 161).  The apparitions described seem to mirror his style as he writes in slow, dark, and almost monotone. Throughout the book his style mirrors the actions in the book.