preview

Examples Of Glitter In The Great Gatsby

Good Essays

Beneath the Surface Glitter, 'The Great Gatsby' is a Profoundly Pessimistic Novel. Do You Agree? F. Scott Fitzgerald has created a very intricate world in 'The Great Gatsby'. It is a world that includes the exceedingly rich and also those who are much worse off. The novel focuses around the wealthier section of this world, those who live in East and West Egg. Fitzgerald is very thorough in his descriptions, in order to fully convey to us the glamour, sparkle and hope of that world. The 'glitter' is very present, but as the story progresses the surface begins to become translucent, and there are many clues leading to more pessimistic depths of the story. This is where we can see the collapse of The American Dream and all the hopes it brings. The glitter in the novel is presented in several ways. The state in which most of the characters live and the seemingly endless flow of wealth certainly are main contributors. East and West Egg are seeping with money; the houses are not merely houses but mansions, the cars are luxurious and the clothes worn are incredibly glamorous. The parties that Gatsby has are vast and magical. Vivid and colorful language is used to detail his parties, which all adds to the glitter effect. "Champagne like the stars" "glistening hors-drover Harlequin designs bewitched to a dark gold." "Floating rounds of cocktails" Another element of the novel's glitter is Gatsby's idealism. The party is also full of horrible people such as Mr. and Mrs. McKee. Nick is quite compelled by the way the people act, but is also greatly saddened, by the way in which they feel they must act. Gossip is spread round the part like a fire. Needless to say all the gossip is false and lies of some sort or another. The party ends with an act of severe violence that inevitably follows Tom around with his corrupt lifestyle, and Nick wakes up the next morning with a hangover in a cold station. Things do seem to become more optimistic when Nick learns of Gatsby and his dream. When he is told that Gatsby bought his house just so he could be close to Daisy. "He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor." The whole ideal that Gatsby has for Daisy, his hope, his optimism, his

Get Access