>>“But his heart was in a constant, turbulent riot. The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night.”
Talking about Gatsby, the author describes the heart as in constant turbulent riot, something that here means ever-present, unsettling feeling or uneasiness. Previously in the book the author eludes to Gatsby as some mystical inhuman person who has no emotion and has life all together, but simple wants a girl he was with once. Now the author paints a new picture of the old Gatsby, one of insecurities and of a conscious that brings things to his mind to torment him as he tries to sleep. The painted picture represents a normal human being, not some super human who thinks he is right and perfect and has an amazing life. (words 110)
>>“I felt an unpleasantness in the air, a pervading harshness that hadn’t been there before.”
Nick is describing the atmosphere found at Gatsby’s party following Tom’s surprise visit. There was a change in the winds when Tom found out that his girl and Gatsby knew each other. He was eager to see if there was anything more to their relationship than what they had already lead on. His new knowledge created a tension in the air and almost a spirit of anticipation. The anticipation of if Tom is going to realize that Daisy and Gatsby have chemistry together. The author stresses the intensity of this party is obviously present to the participating parties of this love triangle. Each member is hiding something or is trying to find something out and almost all the cards are out on the table. We are supposed to get the idea and the feeling that this party is an extremely awkward place for Nick to be. (words 146)
>>“He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand.”
Gatsby is in the middle of an attempted reality check with Nick. While discussing Gatsby’s idea that he can recreate the past, he pauses and looks around himself wildly according to the author. We are supposed to get a picture of how deeply devoted Gatsby is to this idea that he can have Daisy exactly like he did in the past. The word wildly gives us a snapshot of not only his physical stance but also a screenshot of what is going on in his head. He wildly wants to bring back the past and make it real again and he looks around himself wildly to see if there is any piece of the past around him that he can use to prove his point to Nick. (words 127)
>>“Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. With an effort she glanced down at the table.”
This is yet another one of Daisy and Gatsby’s moments that show the readers just how deeply the feel about each other. “Their eye meet” is often used in a romantic setting, describing lovers. They are ‘alone in space,’ which also is another saying often associated with romance. They are deeply staring into each other’s eyes, not wanting to look away. Daisy has to put forth an effort to look down to try not to make it too painfully obvious to her husband that she and Gatsby are romantically involved. (words 90)
>>“She looked at Tom, alarmed now, but he insisted with magnanimous scorn.”
The truth has just come out and Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby are all emotionally stressed. The moment is full of heat and anger. Daisy is just now realizing how her words have affected her husband. Now she chooses to worry about his reactions. She becomes alarmed when he sends her and Gatsby off in his car alone. The author uses this moment to communicate the anger and hurt Tom is feeling by using the word “magnanimous.” Which is nothing but a big word for great or big. The hurt Tom feels because of his wife’s words encourage him to send her off alone with her supposed long term lover. (words 109)
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