Question

What irony is represented in this situation? How does it connect to Fitzgerald's theme?

a) Dramatic irony, highlighting Gatsby's lavish lifestyle.
b) Situational irony, emphasizing the contrast between Gatsby's funeral and his extravagant parties.
c) Verbal irony, underscoring the sincerity of Gatsby's mourners.
d) Irony of fate, illustrating Gatsby's unfulfilled dreams.

Answer 1

The situational irony of Gatsby's poorly attended funeral versus his lavish parties underscores Fitzgerald's theme of the emptiness of the American Dream and the moral decay of the 1920s society.

Step-by-step explanation:

The irony represented in the situation where Gatsby's funeral starkly contrasts his previous extravagant parties is best described as situational irony. This disparity emphasizes one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's central themes: the hollowness of the American Dream and its emphasis on wealth and materialism. In the world of The Great Gatsby, despite his immense wealth and the opulent parties he threw, Gatsby's lack of true friends and meaningful relationships is tragically underscored at his poorly attended funeral. Through this example of situational irony, Fitzgerald conveys a critical view of the 1920s society, where individuals often valued ostentation over genuine human connections, leading to a moral and spiritual decline.