Justine Wang

Period 4
1/26/14
Literary Device #9 - Characterization
Characterization: portrayal; description of a character
Example: -Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unafected scorn...
something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life... -
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.
Function:
Context: In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway has moved from Minnesota to New York
to make go into the bond business. He went to Yale and fought in the World War. He
gets a house in the West Egg, in Long Island and where new money is, near Jay
Gatsby. Gatsby is introduced into the book as a fabulous gorgeous man that is flthy
rich. He is known for throwing lavish parties where anyone who is a someone is invited.
Everyone knows him but no one personally knows him. He is said to have killed
someone in the war. The readers are also introduced to Tom and Daisy Buchanan.
Daisy is Nicks cousin. Tom Buchanan is made of old money and lives in the East Egg.
Concept: F. Scott Fitzgerald uses characterization to introduce the character Jay
Gatsby. The descriptive words Fitzgerald uses helps the reader sense some thought of
who Gatsby is. Gatsby is described as a man that you would want to take home to meet
your mother and sister.
Connection: This use of characterization connects later on when Gatsby arranges a
tea meeting with Daisy. It connects with irony. Gatsby is shown as a lavish confdent
man that has everything but, when he waits for Daisy to arrive, he is a complete mess.
He is described as being pale and shaking all over. That description of Gatsby totally
contradicts with the image of him throwing big parties and being the big shot man.