Through the manipulation of language, great significance is given to hollow beings and shallow dreams. It may not always be a moral ending of content, but through the use of rhetoric devices, a message of value is liberated. The Great Gatsby, an American novel, presents Nick Carraway’s exquisite use of numerous rhetorical devices used to give meaning to Gatsby and the American Dream. Jay Gatsby is the hollow being with a shallow dream who represents the lower class in America taking advantage of social mobility only to realize one has nothing. Through the use of extravagant language, Nick Carraway illustrates Gatsby’s life and desires as Americans aiming for the American Dream when it really only is a deluded idea of greatness that is nothing
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Nick Carraway stated, “He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it” (Fitzgerald 180). He used creative syntax by writing in a compound sentence form, and this use of language linked the idea of the blue lawn being Gatsby’s dream to his never returned praise. Gatsby was so close to attaining Daisy and status along with his wealth after so much hardship that a little strip of water seemed like nothing. Despite being so close, his attempts at winning back Daisy were fruitless. Americans work for never ending hours to reach their dream without realizing it takes so much time and effort with no guarantee. The use of a compound sentence aligned the idea of this dream abducting American’s work with inequitable returns. Nick also claimed, “It eluded us then, but that’s no matter — to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning ——” (Fitzgerald 180). He used dashes to represent an interruption of thought, and the harsh stops emphasize how Gatsby’s dream has come to a stop. Gatsby worked hard running and chasing it, but then died with his single dream escaping him. The American Dream is exactly what it sounds like. It is just a dream to chase after with nothing in return. The dashes emphasize the empty ending left behind in hollow dreams. Furthermore, Nick mentioned, “Probably it was some final guest who had been away at the ends of the earth and didn’t know that the party was over” (Fitzgerald 179). He used an euphemism to say Gatsby was dead by simply stating “the party was over.” These exorbitant parties were Gatsby’s way of climbing up the social ladder, hiding his new wealth, and conquering Daisy. He worked so hard to gain social status and never gained any social
Nick Carraway stated, “He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it” (Fitzgerald 180). He used creative syntax by writing in a compound sentence form, and this use of language linked the idea of the blue lawn being Gatsby’s dream to his never returned praise. Gatsby was so close to attaining Daisy and status along with his wealth after so much hardship that a little strip of water seemed like nothing. Despite being so close, his attempts at winning back Daisy were fruitless. Americans work for never ending hours to reach their dream without realizing it takes so much time and effort with no guarantee. The use of a compound sentence aligned the idea of this dream abducting American’s work with inequitable returns. Nick also claimed, “It eluded us then, but that’s no matter — to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning ——” (Fitzgerald 180). He used dashes to represent an interruption of thought, and the harsh stops emphasize how Gatsby’s dream has come to a stop. Gatsby worked hard running and chasing it, but then died with his single dream escaping him. The American Dream is exactly what it sounds like. It is just a dream to chase after with nothing in return. The dashes emphasize the empty ending left behind in hollow dreams. Furthermore, Nick mentioned, “Probably it was some final guest who had been away at the ends of the earth and didn’t know that the party was over” (Fitzgerald 179). He used an euphemism to say Gatsby was dead by simply stating “the party was over.” These exorbitant parties were Gatsby’s way of climbing up the social ladder, hiding his new wealth, and conquering Daisy. He worked so hard to gain social status and never gained any social