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.