Gatsby-Irony

"I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon; so everything that happened has a dim, hazy cast over it..." (pg 29). Nick states that he cannot clearly remember everything that happened. He was at a gathering with Tom and Myrtle and some of their friends come over. Nick meets Myrtle's sister and describes her as "a slender, worldly girl of about thirty, with a solid, sticky bob of red hair, and a complexion powdered milky white" (pg 30). He states his memory is hazy and yet he describes this person with great character. He also meets another man and notices that he had "a white spot of lather on his cheekbone" from shaving (pg 30). If a person was drunk, these details would not be as clear or memorable. This supports the author's descriptive style. All of the characters in this story are described with great detail, showing the Nick's perceptiveness.