Syntax

·      In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, various types of syntax is incorporated through out the novel for different situations for the purpose of influencing his style. For example, in Chapter 5, Gatsby is waiting at Nick Carraway’s house for the arrival of his lost love Daisy, who he hasn’t seen in five years. He has been literally counting the days to see her again, but when the time had actually arrived, he is very nervous and anxious, which is conveyed through short, telegraphic sentences. When he first makes contact with Daisy, all he can say is “We’ve met before” (86). After a long sentence, Gatsby leaves to speak with Nick in which he says “Oh, God!” “This is a terrible mistake” (86). These brief and concise sentences that are exhibited in this situation are meant to portray the uneasiness and tension that Gatsby is experiencing. Even though he has yearning for this moment for five years, the style in which this situation is written in demonstrates that he is nervous to confront the love of his life that he was separated from. In another situation, which occurs in chapter 7, involves Tom finding out that that someone had been killed by a hit-and-run. When realizing that it was his mistress, Myrtle, he reacts by yelling “Oh, my Ga-od! Oh, my Ga-od! Oh, my Ga-od! Oh, my Ga-od!” (139). And later when the police is taking a statement from a witness (in which a number of dashes are used), Tom loudly interrupts to ask what happened. With the extreme use of dashes incorporated into this situation, in addition to interruptions, Fitzgerald’s style in this case illustrates the frustration and irritation that Tom is undergoing. Tom can barely believe what he is witnessing and the author expresses his emotions through this particular use of syntax.