The Great Gatsby: Structure of Novel Influenced by Foreshadowing and Flashback


" 'Suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself.'   'I hope I
never will,' she [Jordan] answered.   'I hate careless people.   That's why I like
you.' " (Fitzgerald, pg. 63)   Jordan is explaining to Nick how she is able to
drive badly as long as everyone else drives carefully.   This quote represents
the writing technique of foreshadowing, which is being used in one of its
finest form.   Fitzgerald is foreshadowing to chapter seven where Daisy kills
Myrtle Wilson because of her reckless driving.   Fitzgerald uses foreshadowing
to strengthen the plot of his book.   In chapter nine, Nick begins to recall the
past and relive his old memories.   His must relieve his lingering thoughts of
the past.   During the chapter, Nick uses a flashback to tell about Gatsby's
funeral for the readers to know what happen the day Gatsby was shot.   Flashback
in The Great Gatsby also helps to give the reader background information about
the characters.   In The Great Gatsby, the structure of the novel is influenced
by foreshadowing and flashback.
        Fitzgerald utilizes foreshadowing to the best of its ability to help
organize the novel.   "Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously at
the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling
fingers and set it back in place. 'I'm sorry about the clock,' he said.   'It's
an old clock,' I told him idiotically." (Fitzgerald, pg. 92)   This quote is the
first use of foreshadowing which is in chapter five.   It pertains to all of the
trouble Gatsby causes as he tries to win Daisy back.   The past is represented
by the clock and how Gatsby wants to repeat it with Daisy.   (Eble, pg. 963)
This quote foreshadows to the end of the novel when Nick is left to tell the
story of the dreamer whose dreams were corrupted.
(Eble, pg. 963) "they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back
into their money or their vast carelessness or... [continues]

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