The Great Gatsby (Pages 81-96)

The Great Gatsby

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald uses various literary techniques to captivate his audience and present valuable information. From the development of characters to plot structure, literary techniques become invaluable qualities of Fitzgerald’s writing. In the mood and style of the writing, to flashbacks and foreshadowing, countless literary techniques become evident in The Great Gatsby.

F. Scott Fitzgerald masterfully uses allusions and analogies to connect the reader to the characters of the book. With references to common cultural things such as in the phrase, “That’s the secret of Castle Rackrent (Fitzgerald, Page 85),” which references the historical 1800 novel by Maria Edgeworth, Fitzgerald develops a detailed setting. Such details are crucial to the imagery that is constantly presented throughout the novel in descriptions of people, things, and events. Through devices such as litotes as in the phrase, “I certainly am awfully glad to see you again (Fitzgerald, Page, 86),” Fitzgerald constantly changes the structure of the novel. With foreshadowing and flashbacks, the rhythm of the story becomes varied and entertaining. Fitzgerald additionally uses irony in the character’s relationships and actions to keep the novel unpredictable while symbolism challenges the reader to look more indepthly into every occurrence. Aphorisms become valuable attributes to the novel by providing words of wisdom. Finally, similes and metaphors draw connections within the writing and society. 

The House of Mirth- Book Two

Chapter Three

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Mildred Lisette Norman once said, "Love is the greatest power on earth. It conquers all things.” Edith Wharton, seeing and knowing the power of love, challenges the emotion as one of the central themes within her novel. Whether the love a friend or the love of a spouse, Wharton emphasizes its importance and the necessity to respect it within society.   

Through the challenges that arise in Chapter Three, Wharton portrays the influence and power of love. Despite all of the grievances, betrayal, and embarrassment that Mrs. Dorset thrusts at Lily by twisting her story, Lily continues to lookout for and stay with her friend even when her own image could be at risk. Similarly, Selden, despite the heart-ake  and pain Lily has caused him by not acknowledging her love for him, continues to look out for her best interest and protect her. Even in seeing her greatest weaknesses, he loved her and tried to move on so that she could chose the life she desired and he not block her way. In that, "His real detachment from her had taken place, not at the lurid moment of disenchantment, but now, in the sober after-light of discrimination, where he saw her definitely divided form him by the crudeness of choice which seemed to deny the very differences he felt in her (Wharton, Page 174)." Despite his detachment, it is Selden that stands by Lily and helps her when everyone else leaves her. In reading this chapter and admiring Selden's continued friendship and dedication to Lily, I am reminded of John Tyree from Dear John who looks out for Savannah Curtis out of true friendship and love by helping finance her husbands medical treatments despite knowing that he will never be able to marry Savannah. 

Through such characters and acts of friendship, Wharton portrays the true meaning of love. In her work, she shows that love is one of the most beautiful gifts of friendship often given even when not deserved.  Most importantly though, she shows its power to change the world even if only for one individual. 

Chapter Two

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Throughout the novel, Edith Wharton uses various literary techniques to intensify her style and expand upon the quality of the work. Such literary techniques allow the piece to flow more smoothly by adding transitions and references to previous statements in addition to breaking the piece up with humor and outside references. One such powerful technique used constantly throughout the novel is irony. 

In reflecting upon her adventure into Europe with the Dorsets, Lily views the trip as a "...miraculous release from crushing difficulties (Wharton, Page 157)." This statement, however, is ironic in that through the trip, Lily has not truly escaped her difficulties, but simply prolonged them as she still must find a mean to pay back her debts. Concurrently, Lily finds herself in an ironic situation as she looks to help and protect Mrs. Dorset from a divorce, but finds herself threatened by Mrs. Dorset's twisting tail of events. Within the first two sections of the second book of the novel, Wharton additionally uses irony in how Mr. Selden and Lily crossed paths once more. Selden, looking to avoid Lily, ironically finds himself in a train with her.  

Such placement of irony effectively twists the story in unexpected directions and makes issues within the novel more apparent. Most enjoyably though, irony adds humor. For, as Henry James once said in the Washington Square, "Don't underestimate the value of irony-it is extremely valuable."

The House of Mirth- Book One

Chapter Two

The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Words are a powerful tool of expression, that, through their composition, change the meaning of a passage. In The House of Mirth, Wharton artistically uses various literary techniques to draw in the reader and manipulate their response to various characters making the book a mosaic of simple words that together form a compelling tail of society.

As a writer, Wharton intricately composes tangible images and draws the reader in through questions that show the uncertainties, feelings, and values of characters. Wharton uses rhetorical questions to convey the inner thoughts of characters such as Lily Bart as she interacts with other characters, including her fears of Mr. Rosedale and his power to spread rumors about her and Mr. Selden. Additionally, Wharton uses similes and metaphors to make the story more vivid and to make connections to relatable outside sources. For example, Wharton wrote, "...Mr. Gryce was like a merchant whose warehouses are crammed with an unmarketable commodity" to effectively describe Mr. Gryce as being unsocial and unable to connect with others (Wharton, Page 15).   By using analogies, Wharton describes characters in different ways making each individual quality more personable, imaginative, and connective as, it is through Wharton's use of power verbs and formidable adjectives, that the characters come to life and the reader is drawn into the story. In Chapter Two, it is such descriptions that allow the reader to grow closer to the characters and better understand their qualities such as Lily Bart and her desire for wealth and  the vulnerability of Mr. Gryce.

In using various literary techniques like personification and sensory language, Wharton captivates her audience and draws them into the plot and through variations and differences in sentence structure, Wharton's writing flows smoothly transfixing the reader. In using different literary techniques, a passage becomes unique.

Chapter One
The House of Mirth

By Edith Wharton

Life is like a journey filled with uncertainty and yet hope as one progresses forward as on a train to a long awaited but unpredictable future. As the first pages of The House of Mirth transpose, the reader begins an expedition with the protagonist, Lily Bart, as she awaits a train at the Grand Central Station. Such a setting as the unstoppable terminal beneficially serves to introduce the reader into the forward moving book, The House of Mirth. 

During a period of change and transformation not only in America, but also the world, the train station becomes a representation of the journey society must take into the future. Taking place in the 1920s, the book astutely addresses the major issues of the unfolding period and themes of the book: freedom and independence, love and marriage, wealth and money, and the expectations of society. For Miss Lily Bart though, the train represents the passing of a period of her life and a transition to the next. She must chose the path of her future and she seeks a train with answers to happiness, love, and prosperity and promises of freedom, independence, and acceptance. 

Thus,  it is with gaps in the track that the train track leads forward. Similarly, it is with unconfessed love and misunderstandings or surprises that Chapter Two begins. Just as Lily Bart said, "I wish I knew-I wish I could make you out," it is with uncertainty that we turn the next page, take the next train, and look into the future (Wharton, Page 5).