Barajas 1 Maria Barajas Mrs. Tyree English II AP, Per.

5 14 October 2013 Irony in The Great Gatsby Irony is common in most of the greatest novels. The format through which irony is used in the novel gives the novel an interesting twist, catching the readers attention. Irony plays an important role in the social commentary F. Scott Fitzgerald makes in the novel The Great Gatsby, expressing through irony more than just one meaning however, Fitzgerald perhaps contains a double meaning in his words. Irony develops a consistency in this novel, found throughout the novel in places or situations least common to find irony. Fitzgerald made the irony in the novel in a way mysterious, leaving to consideration if irony was included or not. One case of irony that did not immediately display in the story was Nicks encounter with Daisy and Jordan. F. Scott Fitzgerald made a remark about them emphasizing on what they wore. The irony about this is hidden in his reference to the white dresses that both wore They were both white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house (Fitzgerald 8), when first reading this line nothing seems different, only Fitzgerald accentuating on Daisys and Jordans dresses. Then the irony is shown as Fitzgerald gives commentary on how Daisys murmur was only to catch peoples attention and make them come to her Ive heard it said that Daisys murmur was only to make people lean toward her; an irrelevant criticism that made it no less charming (Fitzgerald 9), showing Daisy was not the type of person she seemed to be even if she hid the truth through white dresses that could symbolize purity. The social commentary

Barajas 2 Fitzgerald is making here is on appearance, how some people appear to be someone but are the complete opposite. Irony is present not only once, but multiple times throughout this novel. Fitzgerald makes his use of irony more obvious when he begins to describe the guests at Gatsbys parties. Fitzgerald talks about the guest with disgust in his words as he describes their actions and attitudes toward others And the Hornbeams and the Willie Voltaires, and a whole clan named Blackbuck, who always gathered in a corner and flipped up their noses like goats at whosoever came near (Fitzgerald 61), their feeling of superiority above everyone else. Another part where irony was used by Fitzgerald is when he talks about Snell how he was so drunk that Mrs. Swetts ran over his hand Snell was there three days before he went to the penitentiary, so drunk out on the gravel drive that Mrs. Ulysses Swetts automobile ran over his right hand (Fitzgerald 62), showing how people are losing the good judgment and self-respect had by getting drunk and appearing in public. F. Scott Fitzgerald in this case made irony more noticeable showing the mistakes committed by humans leading society to embarrassment and disgrace. Fitzgerald shows some irony with Nicks ultimate opinion about Gatsby, how Nick believed Gatsby to be a great man and respected him Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn (Fitzgerald 2). Nick almost envied Gatsby and wanted to be like him at the beginning of the novel as Fitzgerald has showed us. Demonstrating this again, Nicks infinite praise of Gatsby but this praise would soon vanish If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him (Fitzgerald 2). The irony present here was something vague, not fully understood, because the irony overlapped through a long time. Fitzgerald made Nick admire Gatsby at first seeming as if his admiration for Gatsby would never end just increase. Then to have all that turn around when Nick found out the

Barajas 3 truth about Gatsby how he lied saying he was one person but really was a whole different person. Reflecting again over the social commentary Fitzgerald made of Daisy and Jordan, they seemed to be one person with certain morals and character but turned out to be the opposite of what they showed. Irony is all over this novel hidden or unhidden, showing Fitzgerald enjoys the use of irony for his novels. Fitzgerald has irony in most of his social commentaries given the case of each one mentioned. With Daisy and Jordans encounter Fitzgerald makes it confusing at first just describing at first their dresses but later expresses the meaning behind them. With Gatsbys party guest he makes the irony more obvious stating a brief description of each guest showing the disgust felt for Gatsbys guest how he believed they made society worse. Finally with Nick and Gatsby Fitzgerald has Nick praise Gatsby in the beginning of the novel to only have Nick fully know Gatsby and change his thoughts about him through irony similar to Daisys and Jordans case of the irony expressed through their dresses.