The Great Gatsby: Chapter 1

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses in depth imagery to create not only a setting for his novel but also the story line itself.  In this first chapter Fitzgerald introduces several characters to the reader.  He introduces the Buchanans, Jordan Baker, Gatsby, and most importantly the narrator.  Here Fitzgerald uses imagery to decribe how rich the Buchanans are,

"The windows were ajar and gleaming white against the fresh grass outside seemed to grow a little way into the house.  A breeze blew through the room, blew curtains in at one end and out the other like pale flags, twisting them up toward the frosted wedding-cake of the ceiling, and then rippled over the wine-colored rug, making a shadow on it as wind does on the sea," (Fitzgerald, 8).

 Throughout this quote, Fitzgerald uses imagery to express the vast wealthiness of the Buchanans.  He uses phrases such as "frosted wedding-cake" and "wine-colored" to describe features of the room.  Using intricate words to describe the room helps the reader picture the room and understand how truly wealthy Tom and Daisy live.  Fitzgerald is very good at painting the picture he wants the reader to see.  It will be interesting to see how Fitzgerald uses this to describe the awkward moments of the novel.  At this point in the novel, I am really enjoying Fitzgerald's work.