Fitzgerald’s use of imagery and dialogue side by side are effective when identifying …show more content…
Nick describes the image of the broken path and crushed flowers to symbolize the turn Gatsby’s relationship has taken with Daisy. The flowers symbolize his broken relationship with Daisy and how things will never be the same. While the broken path resembles the differences between past and present in Gatsby's life. Fitzgerald put this image of the broken path and crushed flowers in the passage to highlight what Gatsby is feeling. Fitzgerald uses imagery again during Gatsby’s flashback to the past. Gatsby describes Daisy as his “milk of wonder” and as a “blossom[ing] flower” (111). This image of how Gatsby sees Daisy as his milk of wonder proves his affection and obsession with her. While the blossoming flower symbolizes Daisy’s entrance into Gatsby’s life. Fitzgerald uses dialogue similar to how he uses imagery. In this particular passage he uses dialogue to change the mood, in the same way, he uses imagery to show symbolism. After the party, the mood shifts completely from happy to sad, and in Gatsby’s conversation with Nick, there is a large amount of discouragement and despair in Gatsby’s voice. Gatsby says “he feels far away from [Daisy]” and …show more content…
Fitzgerald chooses different tones that fit with the dialogue and imagery in each passage. In this passage, Fitzgerald uses a more hopeful and nonsensical tone during Nick’s conversation with Gatsby after the party, and he switches to a philosophical tone when Nick narrates the scene about Gatsby's past. After the party, Gatsby says he's “going to fix everything the way it was before. She'll [Daisy] see” (109). Gatsby, concerned about Daisy’s opinion of his party, explains his anger and confusion in a depressing conversation with Nick. Fitzgerald’s is able to establish this nonsensical and hopeful tone is made possible by the use of dialogue. Gatsby’s short and frantic phrases like “She’ll see” and telling Nick “she didn’t like it [the party]” over and over, is important in making Gatsby appear crazy to Nick (109). This is important because it marks the first point in the novel where Gatsby feels like he doesn’t have control, and Fitzgerald's use of tone and dialogue make this evident. However, when switching to the past Fitzgerald uses a more philosophical tone. The mood of the scene shifts completely and there is no dialogue. The flashback portray Gatsby five year earlier, before “his life had been confused and disordered” according to Nick (110). Fitzgerald shifting the tone slows down the story and allows the reader to soak in what Gatsby felt. Gatsby mentions the “cool