Figurative Language In The Great Gatsby

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1. Diction Regarding her baby, Daisy reveals, “I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 17). Fitzgerald employs unique syntax in associating the word “fool” with Daisy’s hopes for her infant daughter. Daisy is aware of the subordinate role that women are expected to play, such as quietly tolerating the extramarital affairs of their spouses. According to Daisy, women are better off being naive and docile. She implies that by conforming to the social values of her era, rather than challenging them, women can enjoy their lives and be happy. 2. Syntax Daisy asserts, “Do you always watch for the longest day of the year at then miss it? I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it” (Fitzgerald 11). Fitzgerald utilizes parallel structure and a rhetorical question to highlight the nature of Daisy’s personality. Daisy has a desire to become aware of minor events which she somehow seems important, however, she becomes easily distracted in finding pleasure. This also demonstrates Daisy’s sense of haste and egotism, as she didn’t care to wait for anyone else’s answer, and is concerned with her only her own. …show more content…

Appeals Nick establishes pathos in describing how “in my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since” (Fitzgerald 1). The usage of nostalgia and strong, emotionally loaded language elicits a solicitous emotion in the readers towards Nick. His “more vulnerable years” refer to a time period in which he was more innocent, perhaps prior to him serving in the war. Since then, the advice from him father has transformed him greatly as a person and made him more open. Readers can thus view Nick as more wise and less