Diction

Fitzgerald most definitely uses diction to establish a clear tone for himself in different instances. For example when he first describes Tom Buchanan he says that “not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body” (7).  Fitzgerald employs sophisticated and connotative diction to reflect his negative tone about Tom.  “Effeminate” is especially connotative and brings to mind femininity based on overindulgence, yet it is an intelligent sounding word. Therefore it demonstrates the author’s clear disapproval of Tom, without direct informal insults.

He also utilizes connotative, formal diction to voice his negative opinion of the corruption of society when he depicts the valley of ashes. He writes, “the ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight” (23). Not only does Fitzgerald use alliteration for emphasis, but also his picturesque word choice describes the valley of ashes as a gloomy wasteland. Also, it is the connotation of words like “impenetrable” that really reflect his disapproving tone. By saying “impenetrable” its makes the valley of ashes, the decay of society, seem like something unbearable that must be conquered. 

In another occasion, Fitzgerald reduces the formality of his diction to demonstrate his raw emotion and his disgusted tone towards careless wealthy people. For example he writes that, “they smashed up things” and “let other people clean up the mess they had made” (179). Rather than litter his words with high-level vocabulary, Fitzgerald takes a more simple approach, perhaps, to make his emotion and suffering more realistic.