Rhetorical Strategies

Rhetorical Strategies

• ·      Symbolism (Referring to the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg): “But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground” (Fitzgerald 24).
• ·      Symbolism: “…I said ‘God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!’ Standing behind him, Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, which had just emerged, pale and enormous, from the dissolving night” (160).

The author’s use of the eyes of an advertisement watching everything that happens as a symbol is utilized several times throughout the novel. Fitzgerald uses them to symbolize God constantly watching all of the characters’ actions, which are based in the frivolousness of the period and their own unhappiness and emptiness which mars their lives. His use of the words “brood” and “solemn” convey that this mysterious force that has been and will continue to watch them does not approve of what they do. By suggesting that God disapproves of their lifestyles, he is able to convey that he also despises the way that his characters have been living their lives –only caring for themselves and being highly superficial and dishonest. This symbolism contributes to his style, which is largely composed of subtly highlighting the deficiencies his characters has in order to prevent the readers of his novel from following the same path. 

• ·      Irony: “‘And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy’” (49).

Fitzgerald presents his style largely by making characters appear superficial. Jordan Baker appears to make an empty, almost obtuse, remark which makes no sense. The irony manifests itself in that one would usually say the opposite of what she has claimed, as technically, when there are many people around, it is difficult to find privacy. Succeeding both in creating an aura of levity and portraying Jordan as typical of the era, the author emphasizes her demeanor, which is typical of his style, to warn his audience that they should not conform to her ideals, even though she is talented, rich, and beautiful because they will be unhappy and superficial.

• ·      Aphorism: “The bored haughty face that she turned to the world concealed something – most affectations conceal something eventually, even though they don’t in the beginning…” (57).

Nick, the usually honest narrator, who is amongst extreme superficiality and pretension throughout the entire novel, is relaying his honesty only to disperse his wisdom and to bolster the knowledge of the reader. The aphorism contributes to his style in that it is characteristic of the author’s purpose of intending for the reader to avoid superficiality of the 1920s, and Fitzgerald embeds this piece of knowledge into the novel in order to convey to the reader that if one acts in a certain way, specifically, in a negative manner, then they will soon be transformed into whatever they are impersonating.

• ·      Ethos: “It seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the house, child in arms – but apparently there were no such intentions in her head” (20).
• ·      Ethos: “I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known” (59).
• ·      Ethos: “I’d be damned if I’d go in; I’d had enough of all of them for one day…” (142).

Fitzgerald utilizes Nick’s inner thoughts to present him as a credible source of information, even though it is true that at times, his emotions influence how he views situations. While he may not always view a situation neutrally, he usually attempts to provide correct information and even believes himself to be an honest and basically good person. While the audience may or may not view him as a credible source, the author infuses the novel with instances in which Nick is both honest and dishonest in order to let the audience decide whether or not he is trustworthy – the author’s style, in this aspect, aims increasingly toward revealing discrepancies in Nick’s recount in order to reveal that dishonesty was a large part of the time he lived in and that people should avoid being dishonest at all costs, unless they wish to end up like the rest of the characters.