Syntax

Throughout The Great Gatsby, a number of techniques are used by Fitzgerald to create an appropriate description of the events unfolding in the story, and to help deliver his desired message. For instance, during the narrator’s time at a party in the city with Tom and Daisy, Fitzgerald writes: “People disappeared, reappeared, made plans to go somewhere, and then lost each other, searched for each other, found each other a few feet away” (37). This style of syntax, fragmented and in a list, serves to show how the entirety of the evening was formulaic, with a sense of redundancy crafted to highlight the mundane events. In addition to this, the syntax helps to show how the people’s lives begin to blend together in a murky lack of recognition, a metaphor which is aided by the smoke present in the room. Furthermore, it serves to underscore how the apathy of their lifestyle is reflected in their meetings.

            “It eluded us then, but that’s no matter--to-morrow we will run faster, stretch our arms farther…and one fine morning—“ (180). The syntax utilized in this sentence here is quite unusual, as it not only sets off part of itself with a dash, but it also trails off at the very end of it, as well as featuring ellipses. The dash to set off the beginning works to emphasize the statement, discounting the statement on the grounds that the past elusions are not an issue to be dwelled upon. Following the dash, there is a set of actions, split by a comma, which, when taken with the whole of the message, helps to denote how much work really would need to be put in for the American Dream to really be functional, as is very heavily indicated by the ellipses, as the unknown passage of time and actions helps to sow the seeds of doubt as to the statement’s veracity. The dash which leaves the sentence to trail off clinches the message of the sentence, as it emphasizes none really have a clear expectation of what their work would be rewarded with.