The Longest Blog

In his satirical short story, "Diamond as Big as the Ritz," Fitzgerald demonstrates how materialism corrupts through his use of rhetoric including tone, diction, and irony. Once upon a time, there was a great secluded wonderland amidst Montana's share of the Rockies where all were waited on hand and foot. If desired Braddock Washington, any of his family, or even John Unger, his guest, could summon Moses to retrieve an army of pink elephants within the hour. This is the world that Fitzgerald creates in his short story: "a sort of floating fairy-land" (Fitzgerald 82). The great fairy-land is really a satire to depict the flaws of materialism. The satirical tone that pervades the piece is perpetuated with the lavish details that Fitzgerald never ceases to divulge. For example, Fitzgerald describes "an exquisite château [rising] from the borders of the lake" (82), "a large cavity" (93) in which the Washingtons keep prisoner everyone threatening the secret existence of their estate, and an "entire force of negroes" (98). These details all defy logic and are quite frankly ridiculous. The pretentious diction adds to the satire. It is as though an egotistical billionaire is bragging to millionaires. Fitzgerald uses the word "château" instead of mansion or house; he uses the description "a wreath of mignonettes" (90) instead of a ring of flowers in order to enforce the pretentious atmosphere that the Washingtons live in and abide by. In that way, Fitzgerald shows the corruption of character through materialism. On top of that, the irony is overpowering. The ownership of slaves by someone so rich they could pay for servants without care is absurd; the diamond that the Washingtons own is so large that were they to spend it, it would be worth practically nothing compared to a small fraction of it. Also, the diamond is "wired" (111), so when the airplanes break through the defenses, the remaining Washingtons commit suicide inside of it. The materialistic corruption is exemplified through the needless frugality in keeping slaves, the illusion of a fantastic diamond despite its worthlessness, and suicide over a worthless diamond. Theses examples are of pure insanity and corruption. Fitzgerald shows that materialism corrupts yesterday, today, and tomorrow.