Diction

In the modernist novel, The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald cunningly utilizes diction through the characters of Nick, Tom, Gatsby, and Daisy. There is a common theme that is consistent throughout the novel, that money does not bring happiness, and this is evident that Fitzgerald heavily believes this through the actions of the characters in this book. Fitzgerald’s ideas of how unhappy money can make people is thoroughly portrayed when daisy is talking about the arrival of her future baby when she explains, “I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a little girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 17). This shows how despite her high social class, and vast wealth that she is incredibly unhappy that she believes her little girl’s only chance at happiness is to be a fool, oblivious to her surroundings, and the bad things that come along with money. It also depicts Daisy as a fool, why would someone wish that for their unborn daughter? This quote proves how incredibly ignorant daisy really is through the one word, “fool.” Another excellent example of Fitzgerald’s use of diction is when Nick Carraway is expressing his feelings towards the East Egg neighborhood, he depicts it as, “A hundred houses, at once conventional and grotesque, crouching under a sullen, overhanging sky and lusterless moon” (Fitzgerald 176). When Nick says things such as “lusterless,” and “grotesque,” it shows directly his attitude toward the east side. It went against his values, people booming with money, living lavishly, and partying, while nick desires, at first, to be humble and have some decency, while this is not the case of many of those around him in the East Egg neighborhood.