preview

Literary Analysis, Chapter V, The Great Gatsby

Decent Essays

Literary Analysis, Chapter V, The Great Gatsby In the fifth chapter of The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald is able to embed various themes kernels throughout the chapter; including the past, wealth and its consequences, and disillusionment. These themes not only occur within this chapter; they are also apparent throughout the entirety of the novel. However, these ideas are firmly supported by a bulwark of evidence, keeping the reader continually pondering at the thought of their true meaning further on in the novel. In the same manner, Fitzgerald is able to incorporate numerous literary devices throughout Chapter V. This makes his style of writing not only complex, but the novel itself also becomes truly elaborate because he skillfully utilizes these devices and elements to deepen the characters, the plot, and the lessons to be learned from this novel. Numerous motifs and symbols such as color, weather, houses, a clock, and the green light all appear alongside important plot and character developments from the beginning right to the very end of the chapter.
Fitzgerald builds various themes throughout this chapter by employing the lives of major characters: Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, and Daisy Buchanan. Through these characters, Fitzgerald continually relays important notions that he believes the reader should take upon themselves to enhance their own lives and that of the people around them.

Fitzgerald also harnesses major literary devices--color, weather, and houses-- all found throughout popular literary works from America and around the world to assist in the emphasis of his keynote concepts. Around the world and since the beginning of written words, literature is riddled with these very devices. Each color has a certain purpose, weather can predict the future or signal the rebirth of something, the light or dark can play a crucial role in the intentions of a character, and the physical descriptions of a house can all help relay a message. The first major literary element used by Fitzgerald is none other than color. Color symbolism is often used in literature to impart a deeper meaning to the words which, in turn, helps transform what is written by the author into a more powerful instrument. For example,

Get Access