Perceiving People Perfectly: How F. Scott Fitzgerald Uses Characterization in The Great Gatsby to Help Readers Understand the Characters
Juliet fakes her death. Chris Mccandless abandons society. Atticus Finch strongly defends Tom Robinson. One of the biggest challenges for people is often understanding others and their situation. “Why did they do that?” “Why won’t they tell me?” “What’s happening?” But, if they knew what was happening in other’s minds and life, knowing their motives and inspiration for an act could help others understand them better. “Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character” (ReadWriteThink 1). This revelation of a character allows readers to have better insight into a character, …show more content…
“But I didn’t call to him for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness” (Fitzgerald 20-21). This quote shows Gatsby physically reaching and stretching to reach Daisy. The word “trembling”, describing his movement, references the idea that he is really struggling with something. The fact that “he stretched out his arms”, shows that he’s longing and wanting something, though we don’t know what it is yet. This reveals a “curious” side to Gatsby and makes the reader wonder why he’s longing for something far away, his “single green light.” A character’s actions show them doing something, but, beyond that, what really matters is why they performed that …show more content…
Gatsby, though few are knowledgeable about who he really is, has a huge effect on other characters, eluding to him being a mysterious character. The phrase “...the romantic speculation he inspired that there were whispers about him from those who found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world,” makes this idea seem very important, if “those who found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world”, were, in fact, whispering about him. The effect that he has by simply not showing himself often and remaining distant, suggests that there is something unknown about him. Along with that, he is an uncertain character who definitely has a mixed past and is hiding something. Behind the effect that someone has on others, is the reason one portrays themselves that way. Occasionally, this reason comes out from the character which can change the judgement someone may have originally
Juliet fakes her death. Chris Mccandless abandons society. Atticus Finch strongly defends Tom Robinson. One of the biggest challenges for people is often understanding others and their situation. “Why did they do that?” “Why won’t they tell me?” “What’s happening?” But, if they knew what was happening in other’s minds and life, knowing their motives and inspiration for an act could help others understand them better. “Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character” (ReadWriteThink 1). This revelation of a character allows readers to have better insight into a character, …show more content…
“But I didn’t call to him for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness” (Fitzgerald 20-21). This quote shows Gatsby physically reaching and stretching to reach Daisy. The word “trembling”, describing his movement, references the idea that he is really struggling with something. The fact that “he stretched out his arms”, shows that he’s longing and wanting something, though we don’t know what it is yet. This reveals a “curious” side to Gatsby and makes the reader wonder why he’s longing for something far away, his “single green light.” A character’s actions show them doing something, but, beyond that, what really matters is why they performed that …show more content…
Gatsby, though few are knowledgeable about who he really is, has a huge effect on other characters, eluding to him being a mysterious character. The phrase “...the romantic speculation he inspired that there were whispers about him from those who found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world,” makes this idea seem very important, if “those who found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world”, were, in fact, whispering about him. The effect that he has by simply not showing himself often and remaining distant, suggests that there is something unknown about him. Along with that, he is an uncertain character who definitely has a mixed past and is hiding something. Behind the effect that someone has on others, is the reason one portrays themselves that way. Occasionally, this reason comes out from the character which can change the judgement someone may have originally