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.