The Great Gatsby Narrative Style Analysis

Great tales of tragedy are made every generation, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one interpretation of this archetypal love tragedy. After the climax of the novel, Gatsby unveils the mystery behind his façade, and reveals the root of his love for Daisy. The passage is intertwined with Nick’s first person perspective and the third person narrative of Gatsby’s memories. Together, these perspectives establish conflicting, fluctuating tones and a greater understanding of the plot. Fitzgerald’s usage of tone, syntax, and diction cooperate with the utilization of multiple perspectives forming the author’s unique cinematic style that works to create the dramatic irony in Gatsby’s love affair and applies a modern interpretation to the romantic conflict (148-151). …show more content…
Since Nick is omnisciently speaking from Gatsby’s point of view, the words the author uses are very passionate, such as Gatsby’s description of Daisy when they first meet. Phrases like “excitingly desirable” and “breathless intensity” are Fitzgerald’s peek into the mind of Gatsby (148). Gatsby’s words have a strong romantic tone about them. Phrases such as “a penniless young man without a past” define Gatsby, and words like “colossal accident” and “despised himself” bring the character’s commentary to the situation; all of these working together create an empathetic tone toward Gatsby’s romantic conflict (149). “At any moment the invisible cloak of his uniform might slip from his shoulders” is an especially interesting use of words that describe Gatsby’s first usage of his new persona and lay the foundation for his fraudulent life (149). Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s temporary glory from the war almost as a justification for Gatsby’s actions here with a tone of compassion for the