Blog Topic #3: Syntax

     In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald reveals his creative and witty style through the use of Syntax. In chapter 3, Jordan explains that “[he] like[s] large parties… any privacy” (54). This statement is ironic because you wouldn’t typically expect privacy at a large party. However, after analyzing this statement, we can infer that Fitzgerald was referring to the privacy obtained from having the liberty to move from place to place and have conversation with a variety of individuals. He uses this irony to make a very interesting point of an unusual statement. In an explanation of New York, Nick explains “I love New York on summer afternoons when everyone's away. There's something very sensuous about it - overripe, as if all sorts of funny fruits were going to fall into your hands” (125). Through this expletive, Fitzgerald makes an interesting opinion about New York: he finds it gratifying when the city is empty, perhaps because of the increased opportunity. Fitzgerald’s witty style is best revealed in his explanation of Gatsby’s dream: “He must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through frightening leaves and shivered” (111). Through this satire, Fitzgerald undermines Gatsby’s character and exposes his ambitious and individualistic motives. This also gives the impression that Gatsby is ignorant: he is so intent on living his life a certain way that he is unable to see some of the negative things in life. By employing this syntax, we can understand Fitzgerald’s clever writing style.