Diction

        In the Novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald to differentiate between the stages of wealth or stature. There are many examples of Gatsby’s riches and prizes.  Fitzgerald mentions Gatsby’s “mansion”, five times in the book, every time stating more and more details and information about the luxuries of his coinage.  In chapter 3, Fitzgerald mentions Gatsby’s, “Rolls-Royce” and how “every Friday five creates of oranges and lemons arrived form a fruitier in New York – every Monday these same oranges left his back door in a pyramid of pulpless halves. There was a machine in the kitchen which could extract the juice of two hundred oranges in half an hour if a little button was pressed two hundred times by a butler’s thumb”(46). This portrays the vast amount of money Gatsby has to spend, whereas the poor Meyer Wolfshiem is in quite the opposite state. He is a “gambler” that “fixed the World’s Series back in 1919”(87). Fitzgerald contrasts the difference in wealth to create a solid picture of the character classes and how they interact and set a tone. The rich Mr. Gatsby sets a very haughty and flamboyant tone, whereas Mr. Wolfshiem sets a sly ominous tone in the book.

        Another point to focus on is the character, Tom Buchanan. Although the book is not fixated on him his character’s insight is developed by many different uses of devices in literary terms. Tom is conveyed as being a snotty individual who believes he is above everybody else. He openly says,  " 'It's a bitch,' said Tom decisively. 'Here's your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.' "(32), which explains his attitude of being a well-known bigot. Through the use of powerful words and phrases, Fitzgerald uses an astonishing amount of diction to describe the characters and the themes of the book.