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Examples Of Diction In The Great Gatsby

747 Words3 Pages

The Great Gatsby is a beautifully written novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. As the novel analyzes the transition of love from the past into the present, it is made crystal clear to the reader that Gatsby's emotional state is out of step with time when he is reunited with Daisy in chapter 5. Fitzgerald has allowed the readers to understand the extent of Gatsbys feelings for Daisy through his use of characters actions, tense mood and diction. “In a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and a gold-colored tie, hurriedin. He was pale, and there were dark signs of sleep beneath his eyes.” the colours silver and gold symbolize wealth It also suggests he was eager he is to show Daisy how wealthy he was as he was dressed in his “Sunday best”.quote also …show more content…

It wasn’t a bit funny. Aware of the loud beating of my own heart I pulled the door to against the increasing rain.” Gatsby was described as balancing precariously on a tightrope; all of his movements and movements had to be exact and acute.The "increasing rain" symbolizes Gatsby's and possibly Nick's growing concern in this circumstance. The usage of the sad fallacy here indicates how much Gatsby worries about the outcome of this encounter with Daisy and that he is concerned about Daisy's potential negative response to his abrupt appearance. “Gatsby, his hands still in his pockets, was reclining against the mantelpiece in a strained counterfeit of perfect ease, even of boredom. His head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock..” This quote suggests that Gatsby's exterior belies his feelings. He distorts reality by manipulating appearance to look as though he is not nervous. The phrase "defunct mantelpiece clock" represents the clash of the past, present, and future. The fact that the clock is already broken and considered "defunct" represents Gatsby's incapacity to go back or forward and the non-dream state when his fantasy of meeting Daisy finally comes

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1443 Words | 6 Pages

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the word time appears 450 times throughout the novel, either by itself or in a compound word. Fitzgerald’s excessive repetition of the word emphasizes the fact that time is an important concept to the overall design of the book; in this novel, it serves as a major theme that portrays that fact that we collectively as humans cannot alter and control time, no matter how hard we try. Fitzgerald’s characters are seen both trying to live in the past and skip ahead and towards the future -- each is on a separate journey to achieve their own personal dreams -- while avoiding what is presently at stake in their lives. For every character in the novel, issues arise due to the relationship between their pasts and their futures, as well as their lack of personal responsibility for the choices they make in navigating the present between these two time gaps. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald uses clocks and time -- specifically the mantelpiece clock -- to support Gatsby’s hopes of winning Daisy after having lost her, as well as his inability to let Daisy, or rather

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194 Words | 1 Pages

In the first chapter of the book, “The Great Gatsby”, the author F. Scott Fitzgerald advances the idea that despite Daisy’s husband, Tom’s, countless achievements he was granted, his character development became an anticlimax. Fitzgerald’s use of juxtaposing diction, a glorious diction to an arrogant diction depicts Tom’s change in personality parallel to to his success. The author uses glorious diction, such as “accomplishments”, “excellence”, “wealthy”, “freedom” and “powerful”, to reinforce Tom’s countless achievements and fame he has received that shaped his character. This pattern of diction allows the author to display Tom as a successful figure, compared to many others in the same generation as him. While Tom is portrayed as a successful

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302 Words | 2 Pages

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the clock on Nick’s mantle in chapter fives symbolizes that Gatsby’s and Daisy’s past is long gone and the impracticability to recreate the past because Gatsby's is unable to move forward in time. Five years ago Gatsby and Daisy were in love, but couldn't fulfill their lives together. With Gatsby being deployed to the Great War and being from a poor background he couldn't be with a girl like Daisy that has a wealthy background. After five years Gatsby and Daisy join together again at Nick’s house for some tea. The attempt of Gatsby to see Daisy in such a long time turns into a weird and awkward situation for both themselves.

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316 Words | 2 Pages

Gatsby knocks Nick’s clock over and does not really know how to start conversation, symbolizing the clumsiness of his attempt to stop time and retrieve the past. When Nick has a talk with him in the kitchen, he states Gatsby is acting “like

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756 Words | 4 Pages

Gatsby’s dreams and aspirations in life are rather interesting and amazing as he goes about his life in the book. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald helps highlight the social, moral, and political issue that were very present during the 1920’s and today. Gatsby is the focus of the book as before the book began, he was an ex-soldier who came to wealth by some rather illegal ways. Daisy a married woman is his person of interest, who was his ex-lover 5 years before the book started. Gatsby’s actions, and words demonstrate a clear obsession with Daisy that seems to have no end.

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1584 Words | 7 Pages

Fitzgerald utilizes the broken clock as a constant reminder of Gatsby's "new money" standing, setting him apart from the other affluent individuals he associates with. Nick states in a melancholy tone, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that is no matter — tomorrow, we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... And one fine morning — So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the

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745 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel it shows “His head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock, tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers and set it back in place” (Fitzgerald 93). This clock symbolizes Gatsby trying to recreate the past in the present with Daisy but won’t be successful because their past relationship is broken. To continue on, the symbolism of the green light at dock slowly diminishes due to Daisy being unphased by Gatsby's desperate efforts. The author illustrates “Daisy put her arm through his abruptly but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said.

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829 Words | 4 Pages

In the movie, the clock is not broken, this is important because the clock represents the frozen time between when Gatsby and Daisy last met. These differences between the details are important because every detail in Fitzgerald’s works symbolizes

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639 Words | 3 Pages

For Gatsby these ideas tangle together in his struggling pursuit of Daisy. Similar to the ceaseless green light, Gatsby is persistent in his obsession with recapturing the past as he believes material possessions will provide him with renewal. This concept is revealed to the reader since the presence of

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619 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald uses a number of symbols to show readers Gatsby’s attempts to relive the past as being an unattainable goal. Among the symbols in the novel, the green light, resting on Daisy’s dock, represents Gatsby’s struggle to move on from the past. This light, being so close to Gatsby, proves just how close Gatsby got to fulfilling his dream of being with Daisy, but yet he never reaches it. Gatsby reaches out to this light quite often, but he can’t physically reach it, which is how the author shows readers that Gatsby cannot get to his past.

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1206 Words | 5 Pages

In the novel, Gatsby is often surrounded by these symbolic objects. One of these is the mantle clock in Nick’s house. As Fitzgerald paints the scene, he describes how “Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers and set it back in place.” Gatsby foolishly knocking over the clock represents his ignorance of time, as he is locked in an endless quest to return to his forgotten love with Daisy. While in reality, it is impossible to return to the past, Gatsby disregards this, which later brings along one of his most famous quotes: “‘Can’t repeat the past?

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512 Words | 3 Pages

After Gatsby’s long chat with Daisy at Nick’s house, a clock is once again referenced. Gatsby is said to be “running down like an overwound clock” (Fitzgerald 92). The word overwound means wound beyond the proper limit. A clock in this state can no longer tell time, not because it is standing still, but rather because it’s broken in a different way.

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134 Words | 1 Pages

The word defunct is an adjective that is used to describe something as no longer functioning. The clock in the passage is described as “defunct” and as a result, the emotions alongside the event seems pointless. The clock does not work anymore, yet when if falls off the mantelpiece an amount of stress is created in response to the event. The stress is indicated by Gatsby’s “trembling fingers” (87) and that Nick believed slightly that “it had smashed in pieces on the floor.” (87)

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1165 Words | 5 Pages

Little did Gatsby know that once the present becomes the past, it's not possible to relive the past. Rather, the future should be pursued. Furthermore, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter — to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... . And one fine morning ——So we beat on, Azam 4 boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (pg 138).

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922 Words | 4 Pages

The Great Gatsby is a book full of lessons of how society is divided despite the geographical setting that joins all of us equally. Scott Fitzgerald was a great American writer, who was famous for his concept of the Jazz Age and the Roaring 20s. The novel shows Gatsby´s recovery of the love of his life. Gatsby is in love with Daisy, but now Daisy was married but he still fought for that young-adults love he once had. As the story reaches its end, Gatsby began to realize that Daisy didn´t loved him as it was 5 years ago.

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