Figurative Language In The Great Gatsby
In the classic novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby centers around the lives of the wealthy upperclassmen who lived lonely, hopeless lives and could not attain happiness with their money. Jay Gatsby is one of the characters who utilized his money to get what he wants. He threw large extravagant parties as a statement to get his name perceived, all in misrepresentation to get the attention of a woman. The parties brought a lot of attention for Gatsby which also shows how he used his money to exhibit his wealth and influence. Fitzgerald portrays the sort of parties that Gatsby threw by analyzing specific words, images, and figurative language to develop both the allure and glamour of wealth as well as its destructiveness.
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Fitzgerald highlights the charm and beauty of money and also on its destructiveness. At the parties, “laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out of a cheerful word.(40).” The use of the word “prodigality” refer to the parable of the prodigal son who wasted his money on things which didn’t yield him anything. The quote demonstrate how the partygoers laughing recklessly, and how it portrays their lifestyles. Their care free lifestyles also demonstrate how drunk they are at the party and how they can’t distinguish between what is real and what is fake. Fitzgerald describe the scene as “the lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun, and now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music, and the opera of voices pitches a key higher”(40). The earth doesn’t lurch away from the sun but rotates steadily around it. The movement of the earth represents the effect of alcohol on the partygoers. The music at Gatsby’s party is described as yellow, which is impossible because music cannot be yellow. The use of the word yellow represents the wealth of Gatsby which is all around the house. Nick Carraway who has been observant with the movement of people in and out of the house notices that “on Mondays eight servants, including an extra gardener, toiled
Fitzgerald highlights the charm and beauty of money and also on its destructiveness. At the parties, “laughter is easier minute by minute, spilled with prodigality, tipped out of a cheerful word.(40).” The use of the word “prodigality” refer to the parable of the prodigal son who wasted his money on things which didn’t yield him anything. The quote demonstrate how the partygoers laughing recklessly, and how it portrays their lifestyles. Their care free lifestyles also demonstrate how drunk they are at the party and how they can’t distinguish between what is real and what is fake. Fitzgerald describe the scene as “the lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun, and now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music, and the opera of voices pitches a key higher”(40). The earth doesn’t lurch away from the sun but rotates steadily around it. The movement of the earth represents the effect of alcohol on the partygoers. The music at Gatsby’s party is described as yellow, which is impossible because music cannot be yellow. The use of the word yellow represents the wealth of Gatsby which is all around the house. Nick Carraway who has been observant with the movement of people in and out of the house notices that “on Mondays eight servants, including an extra gardener, toiled