Blog Topic #3: Syntax
- “You’re a rotten driver, “ I protested. “Either you ought to be more careful, or you oughtn’t to drive at all.”
“I am careful.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Well, other people are,” she said slightly.
“What’s that got to do with it?’
“They’ll keep out of my way,” she insisted. “It takes two to make an accident” (58).
Beginning chapter three, Fitzgerald utilizes the concept of wealth and glamour by providing detailed and descriptive sentences that elaborate the lavish lifestyle the upper class was living while it also being the dream the middle-class longed for. Later on, the chapter focuses on the pull between fantasy and reality. When getting down the true aspect of life, the author sets a more relaxed and calm mood by providing simple and concise sentences that get straight to the point and allow the reader to feel alleviated.
- “Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes, and a bright passionate mouth…” (9).
Fitzgerald’s repetition or anaphora of the word “bright” to describe Daisy’s physical appearance exposes her apparent youthful elegance and light. Daisy seems to only show herself in the color white, which is her way drawing attention to herself in a crowd. She acquires a mysterious quality within herself that inadvertently attracts other people to her. Highlighting Daisy in this manner, the author is able to illustrate her as the epitome of the wealthy class, for which so many people now desired to become part of.
I agree with your first analyze of syntax that you gave. When pulling in outside information and drawing connections, the author uses wordy prose that draws on and on. In these long sentences, he throws in rhetorical strategies and diction to emphasize the points he his making. Fitzgerald uses convaluted sentences mainly to describe the rich lifestyle of the New york Socialites, as you said. He transfers to more simplistic sentences to get his point across quicker and more effectively. While I think Fitzgerald's writing style consists mainly on complex sentences, he does inject with terse ones to make a point.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I hate this font. I like your thought process on the selected pages' syntax. Relating the sentence style with the character's class in society was extremely insightful. You also identified Fitzgerald's repetition very well, I agree with your analysis of both entirely. Good job.
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