Quotes Flashcards
“The one on the right was a colossal affair…a factual imitation of some hotel de Ville in Normandy…”
The comparison creates a vivid image of opulence and grandeur. It suggests the scale and architectural style of the mansion. The phrase “colossal affair” exaggerates the size and grandiosity of the mansion, emphasizing its immense scale and splendor. The mention of the “hotel de Ville in Normandy” alludes to a specific style of architecture, implying that Gatsby’s mansion is a lavish imitation of a prestigious and ornate building found in France as well as the attempt to replicate a European architectural style. There’s a subtle irony in the phrase “factual imitation.” It suggests that while the mansion is meticulously designed to resemble something of great historical and architectural significance, it lacks authenticity and originality, being merely a reproduction or imitation. This description of Gatsby’s mansion also serves as a commentary on the extravagance and shallowness of the Jazz Age society depicted in the novel. It highlights the obsession with appearances, wealth, and the attempt to recreate European sophistication among the American elite.
