Fitzgerald tells the story of Gatsby's "gaudy" and extravagant world through the unnatural way that nature is presented. This is shown as the narrator, Nick, talks of the "champagne and the stars" here he creates images of and wealth. Nick creates the idea of this wealth being corrupted as he contrasts the ideas of alcohol, symbolising impurity, and stars representing purity; this shows how all the excess he is presented with is corrupted. It also acts as a metaphor for people who come to the party as they may come innocent like the starts but leave polluted by Gatsby's wealth and "champagne". The word ‘stars’ could also suggest fate or good fortune. Another way Fitzgerald shows this is when Nick describes the "lights grows dimmer... the earth lurches away from the sun" this is a very forced and unnatural image of what is normally considered as beautiful- a sunset. This again presents Gatsby's and the guest's worlds as false and unnatural; this shows Gatsby's reality is largely made up of a smokescreen.
Fitzgerald in chapter 3 focussed on the extravagance which Gatsby portrays and which is significant to the plot of the novel. Gatsby is an individual who flaunts his riches, so that everyone knows he is wealthy. The reader is given no doubt as to Gatsby’s wealth and this is emphasised by the parties he throws at the weekends. Gatsby goes to great lengths for his parties, from importing food from the finest of countries, and serving champagne and "liquors with cordials so long forgotten that most of his female guests were too young to know one from another" to his large buffets and to hiring an orchestra to perform. Items of this kind were not common among average men like Nick Caraway at this point in time. In addition, Gatsby’s yellow Rolls Royce is a symbol of his wealth and indulgence. Fitzgerald portrays Gatsby, as a man infatuated by conspicuous consumerism, buying newly modern technology whether it is his Rolls Royce or his recently acquired hydroplane. Items like the ‘hydroplane’ would not be deemed necessary but Gatsby purposely buys these items to let everyone know that he indeed is wealthy.
Fitzgerald, in chapter 3 of employs the narrative of sounds to portray the building excitement of this surreal party. Fitzgerald describes the air to be ‘alive with chatter and laughter’, suggesting that there is a buzzing atmosphere to the party. This also creates the idea that the sounds heard by Nick, an outsider to the party, are almost dreamlike, due entirely to such vast amounts of varying noises. It is as if Nick is experiencing something surreal at this unrealistic opulent banquet. The ‘orchestra is playing’ alone provides the feeling that this is a party of pure extravagance and class, but also conveys the idea of more sounds, once again contributing to the building excitement felt at this luxurious event. Fitzgerald describes the ‘opera of voices’ to pitch a ‘key higher’ which could represent the social climbing at the party – trying climb that bit higher up it the social hierarchy. This further description of noise and sounds all builds in a crescendo to a climatic point, which reflects the party also reaching its peak.
Fitzgerald uses both the voice of his narrator Nick and the setting that Nick presents in order to tell the story at the end of Chapter 3. Nick’s narration hints at the dreamlike world of Gatesby. The lights illuminating the garden are plentiful and create an ‘artificial light’ to which Gatsby’s ‘like moths’. Fitzgerald is portraying the guest’s inability to resist the wealth on display and their gravitation towards the light. They are drawn to the magical unreality of Gatsby's world and this is portrayed through Fitzgerald's images of the frenzy and excitement that surrounds Gatsby. Furthermore, Fitzgerald tells the story by highlighting how the narrative is unreliable as the narrator Nick ‘lurches’ into the extravagance of both Gatsby’s party and his life at this part of the novel. Fitzgerald emphasises the point in the irony of how, although he doesn’t drink, Nick is intoxicated by the ‘gaudy’ brilliance of the setting; thus, Fitzgerald has also told the story through his use of voice as he reminds the reader that Nick’s narrative filters reality as the character does not, in fact, ‘reserve all judgements’, especially when the ‘Great’ Gatsby is involved.
by
lydiageorge (student)
