Thesis | In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, he uses situational irony to develop characters. |
Introduction 1 | Throughout The Great Gatsby, many circumstances arise that reveal the character’s true nature |
example 1 for intro | characters such as Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, and Daisy Buchanan evolve as the novel progresses |
example 2 for intro | F. Scott Fitzgerald constantly uses situational irony as a literary technique. |
Body Paragraph Gatsby (1) | Gatsby is an ironic character because he pretends to be something he is not |
Body Paragraph Gatsby (2) | Gatsby is a gangster, yet he is the only truthful one in the end of the novel. His occupation is dishonest but he himself is honest. |
Body Paragraph Gatsby (3) | After Myrtle dies, the only thing Gatsby is worried about is Daisy. |
Body Paragraph Gatsby (3) Quote | “He spoke as if Daisy’s reaction was the only thing that mattered.” (143) |
Body Paragraph Gatsby (4) | We don’t expect Gatsby to die |
Body Paragraph Gatsby (4) explanation | Everybody goes to his party but no one goes to his funeral |
Body Paragraph Gatsby (5) | Throughout the novel, the reader is surprised by Gatsby’s actions |
Body Paragraph Nick (1) | The protagonist, Nick Carraway, faces ironic situations throughout the plot |
Body Paragraph Nick (2) | Nick starts out telling us that Gatsby, “represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn” (2), and is the only one that he respects. |
Body Paragraph Nick (3) | Jordan says to Nick, “I hate careless people. That’s why I like you.” (58) |
Body Paragraph Nick (3) explanation | Ironic because Jordan is careless yet she hates careless people. |
Body Paragraph Nick (4) | The characterization of Nick by F. Scott Fitzgerald leads the reader to believe that in the end he will die like Gatsby. |
Body Paragraph Daisy (1) | Daisy displays characteristics that cause the reader to think she will end up with Gatsby and leave Tom |
Body Paragraph Daisy (2) | Myrtle thinks that the car Daisy is driving is Tom’s, but Daisy killed her, not knowing it was her husband’s mistress. |
Body Paragraph Daisy (2) quote | “it seemed to me that she wanted to speak to us, thought we were somebody she knew.” (143) |
Body Paragraph Daisy (3) | Daisy tells Gatsby that she loved him once (Tom) implying that she will no longer leave Tom. |
Body Paragraph Daisy (3) quote | “I did love him once-but I loved you too.” (132) |
Body Paragraph Daisy (4) | Daisy makes decisions that shock the reader and oppose what is believed to happen in the beginning of the exposition. |
Conclusion (1) | Situational irony is used throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby many times. |
Conclusion (2) | F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the characters Daisy, Nick, and Gatsby to portray it. |
Conclusion (3) | Daisy, Nick, and Gatsby grow as characters in the novel. |
situational irony in The Great Gatsby outline
April 3, 2020