Diction

            Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses an abundant amount of diction to help better show the love that Gatsby has had for Daisy. Throughout the story, Jay Gatsby threw numerous parties. However, later in the novel the readers realize the reason for these parties was for Gatsby to lure Daisy to a party and hopefully re-kindle the fire that they once had for each other.  Gatsby describes the way Daisy looked before he left for the war as “gleaming like silver” (150). Fitzgerald used “silver” to show how Daisy is extremely beautiful and valuable to Gatsby. After the war, Gatsby “tried frantically to get home” (150-151). Fitzgerald uses “frantically” to show that Gatsby wanted nothing else than to go home and see the beautiful woman that he left behind. Earlier in the story, when Gatsby and Daisy secretly meet for tea at Nick’s house, Gatsby is extremely nervous to see Daisy for the first time in a long time. While Nick and Gatsby were setting up for tea, Gatsby looked around with “vacant eyes” (84). Fitzgerald uses the word “vacant” to show that Gatsby is so preoccupied with thoughts in his head about Daisy, that he is not even consciously present with Nick. Once Daisy shows up and Nick leaves the two of them alone for a little while, Nick comes back in to see Gatsby “literally glow[ing]” turning from his old nervous self to a “new well-being radiat[ing] from him” (89). Fitzgerald uses “glowed” and “radiated” to show that once Gatsby and Daisy were back together, however brief it may be, Gatsby was happy because he had found the love of his life again. Fitzgerald uses a great deal of diction to show that Gatsby was yearning for the moment that he would be able to see Daisy again.