How does Fitzgerald tell the story in chapter 6 of "The Great Gatsby"?

Write about the ways Fitzgerald tells the story in chapter 6 Fitzgerald uses Nick to introduce the readers to the evolution of ‘James Gatz’ to Gatsby. Straight away Nick is telling the story in retrospect, once again which is an indication that the narrative is based more on his thoughts and interpretations than facts - meaning his reliability can’t always be trusted, and starts the chapter about Gatsby straight away and how there is an ‘ambitious young reporter’ on his ‘day off’ to question Gatsby. He is there to gain information from Gatsby about the rumours of him being a ‘German Nazi’ and his popularity over the recent summer. This is actually a use of foreshadowing because they are not there for Gatsby but to question his ‘accepted hospitality’ which is later seen in chapter 9 where people gather to reveal information about the ‘madman’ Wilson and the death of Gatsby, not actually Gatsby himself, just the role he plays. This chapter is not told in chronological order, due to Nick admitting he tells the anecdote of Gatsby’s past, first and Gatsby ‘told me all this very much later’ which means Fitzgerald decided to show the reader of Gatsby’s past of ‘unsuccessful farm people’ to another lavish party Gatsby throws so the reader understand how he got from point A to B. This is also part of Nick’s manipulating narrative because we are

  • Word count: 631
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

The great skill of Fitzgerald is to create a character which is as much a figment of his own imagination as he is the readers. How far does this reflect the authors presentation of Jay Gatsby?

“The great skill of Fitzgerald is to create a character which is as much a figment of his own imagination as he is the readers”. How far does this reflect the author’s presentation of Jay Gatsby? Throughout the opening five chapters of the novel, Fitzgerald, through the narration of Nick Carraway, introduces us to the protagonist- Jay Gatsby. It is through Nick’s description of him that we are able to evaluate and make judgements about Gatsby’s personality and characteristics. However, what Fitzgerald particularly succeeds in is creating a certain image of Gatsby from the very offset of the novel, and utilising this image and perception to form the main basis, or essentially plot, of the story. The aforementioned image of Gatsby is one of enigma and mystery, and as the novel develops we are able to see how the actions of Gatsby, and other characters’ perceptions of his character, generate the sense that Gatsby is a figment of what he imagines himself to be. As mentioned, enigma and the inherent ‘battle’ of the play in terms of actualities vs. desires/illusions play an important role in uncovering the ‘hidden’ true identity of Jay Gatsby. The mystery of Gatsby is epitomised through what other characters see him as. As it turns out, evidenced by the second chapter, it seems people’s knowledge of Gatsby’s character is largely unknown. Mr Mckee states

  • Word count: 1190
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Write about some of the way Fitzgerald tells the story in Chapter 8 of The Great Gatsby

Calum Hughes Write about some of the way Fitzgerald tells the story in Chapter 8 of “The Great Gatsby” Chapter 8 begins the night after Myrtle Wilson’s death, the narrator, Nick Carraway attempts to persuade Gatsby to relocate due to his involvement in Myrtle’s accident, yet he refuses to do so until he knows what Daisy will do next. Gatsby’s past is revealed as well as the immediate aftermath of Myrtles demise, the chapter concludes with the death of both Gatsby and Wilson, the latter having shot the former then killed himself. The chapter opens with vivid description of Nick’s situation ‘half-sick between grotesque reality and savage, frightening dreams’, the word ‘grotesque’ reminding the reader of the brutal death of Myrtle in the previous chapter. Chillingly, Nick appears to be the only character at this moment to be emotionally affected by Myrtle’s expiry—her lover, Tom, is described as not being ‘unhappy’, whilst her killers, Daisy and Gatsby, have expressed no real remorse except over the inconvenience of the situation. Using Nick as the moral guide, Fitzgerald distances the reader from Gatsby, Daisy and Tom, reinforcing the tragedy—or rather—lack of tragedy present as a result of Myrtles sudden death that works to expose the incompleteness of these characters—products of their own self-indulgent decadence. This chapter is not

  • Word count: 784
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay