Showing posts with label message. Show all posts
Showing posts with label message. Show all posts
Monday, September 13, 2010
Introduction: Words from F. Scott Fitzgerald
The first four paragraphs of the Great Gatsby are a message from the author to the reader, describing the lens through which he intends to portray his thoughts. In the first paragraph, Nick introduces a quote from his father, which tells him to consider a person's history before judging them. This is Fitzgerald's way of letting the reader know that he has done his research, and that all future criticism in the book is based off of reality and not skewed interpretations. Next, Nick states that he is 'inclined to reserve all judgements,' or in other words, will not be biased. This, again, is the author, proving to the reader that he will be fair with his assessments of other people and their actions, and will not show unnecessary rudeness, or state untruths. Finally, Nick mentions an 'intimate revelation' which he has had. In this introduction, Fitzgerald is promising to portray said 'intimate revelation' to the reader, and writes almost as though the entire purpose of the book is to do so: to share his newly crafted ideas with the world. However, is it possible to tell everything exactly as you see it? Is there a way to enlighten the world on something you have noticed but to do so in a way that is fair to everyone involved in said enlightenment? This question may not have a yes or no answer, so I pose you one more: What can an author do, in terms of writing techniques, literary devices, or simply word choices, to convey to the reader that they have an unbiased view on the matters that they are discussing?
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