Language

Choice of words

The novel’s language is generally very descriptive, making extensive uses of adjectives and adverbs to convey detailed descriptions of events and people. For example, every time a major character is introduced a lot of attention is given to both their physical appearance and their manner of being:

...he was a sturdy straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward. Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body…” (p. 12)

Advanced words are used relatively often, which reflects that fact that Nick Carraway is a well-educated narrator who moves in upper class circles:

...this party had preserved a dignifie...