The following three paragraphs are from a literary analysis essay. What order
should they appear in?
1. In this 1925 novel, Fitzgerald creates sensory overload, filling his pages with
flamboyant descriptions of sound as well as overwhelming material beauty.
This sense of overwhelmingness is one way Fitzgerald suggests that great
riches are not entirely positive. Additionally, the shadowy filler characters who
lack personality and individuality demonstrate that overt affluence can attract
fortune seekers and prevent authentic friendships. The mysteriousness of
Gatsby himself draws a parallel to faceless American prosperity, and the final
tragedy leads the reader to question the purpose of affluence.
II. The fact that Fitzgerald approaches this issue from the standpoint of one
experiencing the prosperity of the Roaring '20s strengthens the potency of
this proclamation against the evils of excess wealth. His successful use of
flashy imagery and conformist characters clearly communicates a warning
against purposeless, directionless riches - a warning that modern-day
Americans would do well to heed.
III. As America has grown more prosperous as a nation, some have tried to
raise awareness of the dangers of excess wealth. That is exactly what F.
Scott Fitzgerald does in The Great Gatsby, which features a young millionaire
hungry for even more wealth and power. Vibrant sensory images and vague
characterization help Fitzgerald's novel succeed in making a radical social
statement concerning senseless wealth.