Memories of the past, a place where it was a happier and simpler time. Such a theme is explored in The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Near the end of the novel, the main protagonist, Nick Carraway reflects upon his childhood where he finds solace and nostalgia contrasted from the murky and uncertain present. Fitzgerald contrasts this uncertainty of the present and an adoration of the past by using literary techniques such as employing stories appealing to Pathos as well as using vivid imagery and symbolism. The human brain acts emotionally and justifies its actions using logic. In this way Fitzgerald exploits this mechanism humans have evolved to create an attachment to the character’s past and sympathise with the main character’s
…show more content…
A description that Nick states about his past is that, “the street lamps and sleigh bells in the frosty dark and the shadows of holly wreaths thrown by lighted windows in the snow. I am a part of that, a little solem with the feel of those long winters”. Again the imagery of Christmas by the “sleigh bells” and “wreaths” helps get the reader into the mindset and setting of Nick Carraway’s childhood “long winters”. This imagery tugs on the spirit of the holidays and the feeling of spending those holidays with family. Although the “lighted windows” detail shows it is dark out, the joy and happiness felt by the brightness of “street lamps and sleigh bells” makes the reader forget about “the frosty dark” and “shadows of holly wreaths”. It may be in the dark of night, but the imagery Fitzgerald uses makes the night seem as bright as day and full of holiday spirit. This scenery is well contrasted a vivid image of 1920s art. In illustrating his life in the city Nick compares it to a piece of art stating, “I see it in a night scene by El Greco: a hundred houses, at once conventional and grotesque, crouching under a sullen, overhanging sky and lusterless moon”. Even though these two scenes both take place at “night”, the tone indicates a very different message. First, terms such as “conventional and grotesque” show a lack of
A description that Nick states about his past is that, “the street lamps and sleigh bells in the frosty dark and the shadows of holly wreaths thrown by lighted windows in the snow. I am a part of that, a little solem with the feel of those long winters”. Again the imagery of Christmas by the “sleigh bells” and “wreaths” helps get the reader into the mindset and setting of Nick Carraway’s childhood “long winters”. This imagery tugs on the spirit of the holidays and the feeling of spending those holidays with family. Although the “lighted windows” detail shows it is dark out, the joy and happiness felt by the brightness of “street lamps and sleigh bells” makes the reader forget about “the frosty dark” and “shadows of holly wreaths”. It may be in the dark of night, but the imagery Fitzgerald uses makes the night seem as bright as day and full of holiday spirit. This scenery is well contrasted a vivid image of 1920s art. In illustrating his life in the city Nick compares it to a piece of art stating, “I see it in a night scene by El Greco: a hundred houses, at once conventional and grotesque, crouching under a sullen, overhanging sky and lusterless moon”. Even though these two scenes both take place at “night”, the tone indicates a very different message. First, terms such as “conventional and grotesque” show a lack of