The Great Gatsby: Diction

Diction in the Great Gatsby

In “The Great Gatsby,” F. Scott Fitzgerald uses diction to reveal his tone throughout the novel. In chapter 9, Fitzgerald writes “a hundred houses, at once conventional and grotesque, crouching under a sullen, overhanging sky and a lusterless moon” (176). The specific use of the words “sullen,” “overhanging,” and “lusterless” create a dark, uneasy feeling in the situation.  This ultimately reveals a solemn tone for Fitzgerald.  Also in chapter 9, the author writes, “About five o’clock our procession of three cars reached the cemetery and stopped in a thick drizzle beside the gate” (174). The phrase “thick drizzle,” along with the rain, reveals a depressed, gloomy tone as they approach the cemetery. Fitzgerald incorporates the rain and the depressing diction together to create an overall sense of sadness after the death of Gatsby. In chapter 7, Nick Carraway describes “an unfamiliar butler with a villainous face squinted at me suspiciously from the door” (113). The words “unfamiliar” and “villainous” create an unwelcoming feeling at Gatsby’s doorstep, and reveal an awkward, confused tone. Also the words “squinted” and “suspiciously” suggest that the servant at the door is hiding something, or that something unusual is going on.  This, therefore, reveals an eerie tone through the situation that Nick is in. Finally, in chapter 5, Fitzgerald describes “Gatsby got himself into a shadow and, while Daisy and I talked, looked conscientiously from one to the other of us with tense, unhappy eye” (87). The word “shadow” immediately creates a tone of awkwardness and a feeling of discomfort between Gatsby and Daisy. Then, the words “tense” and “unhappy” reveal directly that Gatsby regrets the situation and is displeased with the way that things are going between him and Gatsby.