Chapter 7 Great Gatsby Rhetorical Analysis

Chapter seven of The Great Gatsby is memorable due to its strong concentration of rhetoric. Rhetoric gives the audience a deeper read into a story, and in this case the story of Nick Carraway and his friendship with Jay Gatsby, a man who seeks to be reunited with his past lover Daisy Buchanan. Using characterization, figurative language, and concrete diction, Fitzgerald highlights the events of chapter seven to create a lasting impact to the audience. “She ran out ina road. Son-of-a-bitch didn’t even stopus car” (Fitzgerald 139). Through characterization, Fitzgerald makes this police officer seem more real and individual, rather than sounding robotic or scripted. The effect of this sentence leaves lasting effects on Tom Buchanan as he later reacts with his emotion as Nick writes “In a little while I heard a low husky sob, and saw that the tears were overflowing down his face. ‘The God damned coward!’ he whimpered. ‘He didn’t even stop his car’” (Fitzgerald 141). This shows the audience the importance of the relationship between Tom and Myrtle in Tom’s life, and how his

Before heading to the hotel, Tom was mad at the blatant disrespect Daisy had given him by basically saying I love you to Gatsby in front of him in the scene where “His hand, trembling with his effort at self-control, bore to his lips the last of his glass of ale” (Fitzgerald 119). Fitzgerald emphasises “self-control” in this sentence because Tom is enraged at this act, physically shaking to prove it. Later speaking to Nick and Jordan he said “‘You think I’m pretty dumb don’t you?’ he suggested. ‘Perhaps I am, but I have a - almost a second sight, sometimes, that tells me what to do. Maybe you don’t believe that, but science-’” (Fitzgerald 121). Tom being mad and how he conveys it affects all of the characters with how they will respond to him. This makes the story more life-like and hooks the audience