“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.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, there is a sense of emptiness and isolation that surrounds the host as he stands on the porch, bidding farewell. The use of the imagery of "emptiness" flowing from the windows and doors highlights the sudden and profound feeling of loneliness. The host's "formal gesture of farewell" further emphasizes the sense of detachment and formality in the scene. This quote conveys a mood of loneliness and detachment, creating a poignant moment in the narrative.
Modern Relevance
In today's fast-paced world, the feeling of isolation and emptiness can still be palpable despite being surrounded by technology and constant communication. The image of a solitary figure bidding farewell amidst a grand setting resonates with the sense of disconnection that many people experience in the modern age. The formal gesture serves as a reminder of the superficial interactions that can often mask deeper feelings of loneliness and detachment in today's society.
Example of Usage
"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.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald"
Reflective Questions:
As you contemplate this scene from F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing, consider the following questions to deepen your understanding:
- How does the author create a sense of emptiness through the description of the surroundings?
- What is the significance of the host standing alone on the porch, making a formal gesture of farewell?
- How does this moment of isolation and farewell contribute to the overall mood and theme of the story?
- Reflect on a time in your own life when you have experienced a similar feeling of emptiness and isolation. How did you cope with it?
Similar quotes
“Here he stood. Here he sat. Here he knelt. Here he lay. Here he moved, to and fro, from the door to the window, from the window to the door; from the window to the door, from the door to the window; from the fire to the bed, from the bed to the fire; from the bed to the fire, from the fire to the bed.”
“Remembering now all those farewells (fake farewells, worked-up farewells), Irena thinks: a person who messes up her goodbyes shouldn’t expect much from her re-unions.”
“His whole future seemed suddenly to be unrolled before him; and passing down its endless emptiness he saw the dwindling figure of a man to whom nothing was ever to happen.”
“The closer they come to transcending technique and the memorization of lines--the closer to really beginning to act, in short--the more Chinese they begin to seem. Happy now approaches Miss Forsythe to pick her up in the restaurant with a wonderful formality, his back straight, head high, his hand-gestures even more precise and formal, but with a comic undertone that ironically comes closer to conveying the original American idea of the scene than when he was trying to be physically sloppy and "relaxed"--that is, imitating an American. I think that by some unplanned magic we may end up creating something not quite American or Chinese but a pure style springing from the heart of the play itself--the play as a nonnational event, that is, a human circumstance.”
“He went up to his room like a man who has been condemned to death. His mind was completely empty, and he was quite incapable of filling it with anything; but with his whole being he suddenly felt that he no longer possessed any freedom of thought or of will, and that everything had suddenly been decided once and for all.”