How Does Fitzgerald Use Ethos In The Great Gatsby

The Great Exaggerator Named Gatsby Francis Scott Fitzgerald, author of the novel The Great Gatsby, writes the story of Jay Gatsby through the main character Nick Carraway. The novel was written as an example of the American dream, demonstrating that through Gatsby’s extravagant life. In the novel itself, there is a lot of speculation about Gatsby’s past. Gatsby, wanting to be known for something true by at least one person in his life, invites Nick for a drive one day in the hopes of clearing up the lies Nick has heard about his past. In an attempt to convince Nick, Gatsby uses literary devices such as logos, pathos, and a vague choice of words to make the story he tells him believable. The first strategy Fitzgerald employs in his writing is logos.

He’s going through his time in the war, talking about his friendships, promotions, efforts, and experiences. That’s when he pulls out a medal he earned in the war from a man named Montenegro, and he shows it to Nick as proof that he was really in the war, that the medal is real, and that he’s telling the truth. He reached into his pocket and a piece of metal, slung on a ribbon, fell into my palm. ‘That’s the one from Montenegro.’ To my astonishment, the thing had an authentic look. Orderi di Danilo, ran the circular legend, Montenegro, Nicholas Rex. ‘Turn it.’ Major Jay Gatsby, I read, For Valour Extraordinary. Fitzgerald 67. In this quote, Fitzgerald has Gatsby show Nick a medal he earned in the war. This convinces Nick that Gatsby truthfully was in the war, since he’s holding undeniable proof of it in his own hands. Fitzgerald was successful in using logos to show that Gatsby had persuaded Nick. The second technique that Fitzgerald utilizes is pathos. As Gatsby was explaining his past, he mentioned his family and how he came to be so