The Great Gatsby Clock Analysis

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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) The clock does not serve the purpose of its creation therefore it is essentially pointless. Had the clock been functional, it would be reasonable for everyone in the room to become nervous if it impacted with the floor because the function of the once useful clock is