Fitzgerald vs. Wharton

I have encountered a large contrast between the writing styles of Wharton and Fitzgerald.  Wharton spent much time painting the background, while in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald jumps into situations and allows the reader to be immersed in the environment in an electrifying manner.  For example, Nick Carraway’s first encounter with Jordan Baker jumps into a discussion about Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan’s affair.  “‘You mean to say you don’t know?’ said Miss Baker, honestly surprised... ‘Tom’s got some woman in New York’” (Fitzgerald, 15)

 His utilization of dialogue throughout the novel helps grasp the reader’s attention.  Each conversation offers some sort of insight into how each character has gotten into the position they are now; Fitzgerald wasted no time with empty, meaningless chatter.  In The House of Mirth, Edith Wharton creates a large society that is hard to join.  While in The Great Gatsby, the dialogue conveys a mood of intimacy in between the conversing character.  In the novel, only about six characters contribute significantly to the development of the story.  Everyone of these characters is somehow connected; therefore, a type of clandestine clique is created.