Great Gatsby
Content
Chapter three of The Great Gatsby is a beautifully crafted part of an excellent book. It is a prime example of Fitzgerald’s masterful use of the English language. Chapter three is brimming with literary devices; metaphors, allusions, personifications, and hyperboles just to name a few. Fitzgerald creates the varied and entrancing mood in chapter three by combining these literary devices with deep underlying themes, carefully placed details, vivid imagery and compelling conflict. Chapter three has three essential moods. The atmosphere of mystery surrounding “Gatsby” is present throughout the chapter. As the chapter progresses Gatsby only becomes more and more mysterious. Carefree extravagance is the second, most obvious, mood in Chapter Three. At several points in chapter three the mood changes to reveal “something significant, elemental, and profound” (Fitzgerald 47). This is reference to the mood of careless immorality and the sense of hidden consequences underlying the whole chapter. The combination of these three moods makes chapter three an engrossing and stimulating read.
With a title like “The Great Gatsby” one does not expect to have to wait till the third chapter of the book to be introduced to Gatsby. Just as surprising is how little information is known about him even after meeting him. However both of these things are essential to the air of mystery that surrounds his character and keeps the reader coming back for more. Fitzgerald uses this technique of purposefully withholding information about Gatsby throughout chapter three. The reader is not told why he holds these parties or why most of the guests don’t even know him. It is not explained why, or how, he has alcohol since it was against the law at that time in America. His full name is not even revealed. Fitzgerald does include several details about Gatsby, however they simply serve to enhance his mystery. At the party Gatsby has to excuse himself because “Chicago was calling him on the wire” (Fitzgerald 48), or, “Philadelphia *wanted+ *him+ on the ‘phone” (53). These are very mysterious calls, especially since the butler does not name who is calling. Fitzgerald also uses the conversations of the party guests to create the atmosphere of mystery. One guest has the impression that “*Gatsby+ killed a man once,” another guest insists “he was a German spy during the war,” still another one claims “he was in the American army during the war” (Fitzgerald 44). Perhaps the most mysterious event in chapter three is after Jordan has had her hour long private conversation with Gatsby. She whispers that “*she has+ just heard the most amazing thing” (Fitzgerald 52), but will not reveal what it was. Towards the end of chapter three Fitzgerald uses incredible imagery to leave the reader with a lasting mysterious impression of Gatsby. “A wafer of a moon was shining over Gatsby’s house, making the night fine as before, and surviving the laughter and the sound of his still glowing garden. A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host, who stood and the porch,
his hand up in a formal gesture of farewell.” (55)
This imagery introduces the idea that Gatsby is lonely, which had not been explored before, but then moves on to a new subject. This leaves the reader unsatisfied; why would someone as successful and popular as Gatsby be lonely? This combination of suspense, limited information, strange details, wild rumors and vivid imagery create the overwhelming feeling of mystery in chapter three. The mood of the “Jazz Age” was very similar to the mood of the party in chapter three, because that’s what life was for prosperous Americans; one big party. Nick lives in the West Egg where most people are newly rich and prone to excessive displays of wealth in order to outdo the older “East Eggers”. Gatsby’s party in chapter three is a prime example of this behavior. Extravagance, carelessness, revelry and fun all describe the mood of the party. Many literary devices are used in chapter three to create the mood of the party. Fitzgerald uses a metaphor to describe the lights in Gatsby’s garden, comparing it to a Christmas tree (40). “A tray of cocktails floated at us through the twilight” (Fitzgerald 43), and, “floating in the Sound was a triangle of silver scales, trembling a little to the stiff, tinny drip of the banjoes on the lawn”(47), are both excellent examples of the eloquent imagery that contributes to the mood of the party in chapter three. Personification is also used to add to the mood of revelry; “the air is alive with chatter and laughter” (Fitzgerald 40), is a sample of this. Fitzgerald even includes an allusion to a very successful playwright (who apparently has a large library) in the line, “This fella’s a regular Belasco”(45). The character “Owl Eyes” says this and is referring to Gatsby after admiring his library. There are many details included in chapter three that contribute to the atmosphere. “Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York”(39), is a detail Fitzgerald included to point out the excessive wealth of Gatsby and to show how important these weekly parties were. The orchestra is “no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and tombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums”. It serves the double pupous of
demonstrating Gatsby’s wealth (because he is able to hire a full orchestra) and to add a large part to the lively atmosphere of the party. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the “young Englishmen” as “looking a little hungry” (42) contrasted with the “solid and prosperous Americans”(42) demonstrates just how well off the American’s were during the “Jazz Age”. These are just a few examples of the multitude of literary devices that serve to create the extravagant mood of the party. Nick was raised in the conservative Midwest of America. His upbringing seems to still be affecting him because he notices
Works Cited Fitzgerald, F Scott. The Great Gatsby. 1925. New York: Scribner, 2004. Print.
With a title like “The Great Gatsby” one does not expect to have to wait till the third chapter of the book to be introduced to Gatsby. Just as surprising is how little information is known about him even after meeting him. However both of these things are essential to the air of mystery that surrounds his character and keeps the reader coming back for more. Fitzgerald uses this technique of purposefully withholding information about Gatsby throughout chapter three. The reader is not told why he holds these parties or why most of the guests don’t even know him. It is not explained why, or how, he has alcohol since it was against the law at that time in America. His full name is not even revealed. Fitzgerald does include several details about Gatsby, however they simply serve to enhance his mystery. At the party Gatsby has to excuse himself because “Chicago was calling him on the wire” (Fitzgerald 48), or, “Philadelphia *wanted+ *him+ on the ‘phone” (53). These are very mysterious calls, especially since the butler does not name who is calling. Fitzgerald also uses the conversations of the party guests to create the atmosphere of mystery. One guest has the impression that “*Gatsby+ killed a man once,” another guest insists “he was a German spy during the war,” still another one claims “he was in the American army during the war” (Fitzgerald 44). Perhaps the most mysterious event in chapter three is after Jordan has had her hour long private conversation with Gatsby. She whispers that “*she has+ just heard the most amazing thing” (Fitzgerald 52), but will not reveal what it was. Towards the end of chapter three Fitzgerald uses incredible imagery to leave the reader with a lasting mysterious impression of Gatsby. “A wafer of a moon was shining over Gatsby’s house, making the night fine as before, and surviving the laughter and the sound of his still glowing garden. A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host, who stood and the porch,
his hand up in a formal gesture of farewell.” (55)
This imagery introduces the idea that Gatsby is lonely, which had not been explored before, but then moves on to a new subject. This leaves the reader unsatisfied; why would someone as successful and popular as Gatsby be lonely? This combination of suspense, limited information, strange details, wild rumors and vivid imagery create the overwhelming feeling of mystery in chapter three. The mood of the “Jazz Age” was very similar to the mood of the party in chapter three, because that’s what life was for prosperous Americans; one big party. Nick lives in the West Egg where most people are newly rich and prone to excessive displays of wealth in order to outdo the older “East Eggers”. Gatsby’s party in chapter three is a prime example of this behavior. Extravagance, carelessness, revelry and fun all describe the mood of the party. Many literary devices are used in chapter three to create the mood of the party. Fitzgerald uses a metaphor to describe the lights in Gatsby’s garden, comparing it to a Christmas tree (40). “A tray of cocktails floated at us through the twilight” (Fitzgerald 43), and, “floating in the Sound was a triangle of silver scales, trembling a little to the stiff, tinny drip of the banjoes on the lawn”(47), are both excellent examples of the eloquent imagery that contributes to the mood of the party in chapter three. Personification is also used to add to the mood of revelry; “the air is alive with chatter and laughter” (Fitzgerald 40), is a sample of this. Fitzgerald even includes an allusion to a very successful playwright (who apparently has a large library) in the line, “This fella’s a regular Belasco”(45). The character “Owl Eyes” says this and is referring to Gatsby after admiring his library. There are many details included in chapter three that contribute to the atmosphere. “Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York”(39), is a detail Fitzgerald included to point out the excessive wealth of Gatsby and to show how important these weekly parties were. The orchestra is “no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and tombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums”. It serves the double pupous of
demonstrating Gatsby’s wealth (because he is able to hire a full orchestra) and to add a large part to the lively atmosphere of the party. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the “young Englishmen” as “looking a little hungry” (42) contrasted with the “solid and prosperous Americans”(42) demonstrates just how well off the American’s were during the “Jazz Age”. These are just a few examples of the multitude of literary devices that serve to create the extravagant mood of the party. Nick was raised in the conservative Midwest of America. His upbringing seems to still be affecting him because he notices
Works Cited Fitzgerald, F Scott. The Great Gatsby. 1925. New York: Scribner, 2004. Print.
