The Great Gatsby - Tone

"A sudden emptiness seemed to flow now from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation the figure of the host, who stood on the porch, his hand up in a formal gesture of farewell." (pg 55) AND "..when the dark lanes of the forties were five deep with throbbing taxicabs, bound for the theatre district, I felt a sinking in my heart...Imagining that I, too, was hurrying toward gayety and sharing their intimate excitement, I wished them well." (pg 57)

These two excerpts, one about Nick and one about Gatsby, both show a tone of lonliness or isolation. The first is a time when one of Gatsby's parties is coming to an end and all his guests are leaving. It is easy to think that Mr. Jay Gatsby has it all, wealthiest man in East Egg with extravagant parties that are constantly a huge hit. But, this is clearly not the case. This is a classic example of the lonely rich man with no one by his side all the time. Family, nor a mistress or wife, is ever mentioned in his context. F. Scott Fitzgerald is illustrating Gatsby's lonliness and isolation in this excerpt. The second passage is of the same theme, but about Nick. Nick is watching all the young couples doing "coupley" things together in the city. Nick is simply longing for a companion, similar to Gatsby's loneliess as well.