In all types of literature, party scenes are able to serve many different types of literary purposes. If written well, the scene can set a mood, express an idea, raise a question or a problem, introduce characters that are featured in the book, and reveal attitudes and motivations. In the book The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the most memorable scenes is the party scene, located in Chapter Three. During this scene, a party that Gatsby has thrown is described, although he is not a part of it. Rather, he is merely a spectator; he sits back and watches people enjoy themselves, while he is alone. This party is extremely glamorous, and as a result, one would come to the conclusion that Gatsby is extremely happy and wealthy. However, the exact opposite is true, and this adds to the effectiveness of the novel due to the comparison that can be drawn from Gatsby to his parties.
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby (1974 film)Hoping to impress Daisy, Gatsby throws large, luxurious parties. In preparation for these parties, Gatsby would do all he could to make them extravagant. Every two weeks, "a corps of caterers came down with several hundred feet of canvas and enough colored lights to make a Christmas tree of Gatsby's enormous garden," (40). Presentation is everything for Gatsby, and the vast amount of lights in his garden heightens its charm and style. To add to this sophistication, Gatsby serves "glistening hors d'oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold," (40). These foods are not every-day accommodations for those who are in a normal economic standing, and this shows the vast showiness of wealth that Gatsby displays. To add to this elaborate display of...