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Promises and Lies: Speech Act Analysis of Character Dialogue in The Great Gatsby

Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies · Vol. 14 (2025) · pp. 93–102

DOI
10.15294/rainbow.v14i.30333
ISSN
2721-4540, 2252-6323
Published
2025-07-31
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Abstract

Characters in literature perform actions that influence stories in addition to communicating information. Scholars have yet to fully examine the speech act aspect of character interactions in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In order to close this gap, this study looks at how lies and promises in The Great Gatsby serve as illocutionary acts that highlight important themes and disclose interpersonal dynamics. The analysis, which is based on Speech Act Theory (Austin and Searle), focusses on insincere assertives (lies) and commissives (promises) in a few dialogue exchanges, especially those involving Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. The study explores how characters' verbal promises and lies propel the story and represent themes of delusion, idealism, treachery, and the American Dream through a qualitative analysis of these exchanges. The analysis shows that Daisy's broken promises and Gatsby's extravagant promises and made-up backstory are more than just empty rhetoric; they deliberately create illusions and reveal hidden power dynamics and emotional undertones in the relationships between the characters. Fitzgerald's criticism of illusion and disillusionment is ultimately highlighted by this pragmatic lens, which also demonstrates how crucial the speech acts of characters that promise and lie are to comprehending the novel's messages about trust, treachery, and the American Dream.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

34 authors · 83 co-authorship links

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  • Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
  • Affiliation unknown
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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Sri Wuli FitriatiAffiliation unknown4
SRI WAHYUNIAffiliation unknown2
Issy YuliasriAffiliation unknown2
Widhiyanto WidhiyantoAffiliation unknown2
bintang priyanto putriAffiliation unknown2
Fahrur RoziInstitut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember1
Nurul HanivahAffiliation unknown1
Henrikus Joko YuliantoAffiliation unknown1
Ilham Bagas AbdurrazzaqAffiliation unknown1
Dwi RukminiAffiliation unknown1
Nurlaely HidayatiAffiliation unknown1
Mokhammad Pradana AjiasaAffiliation unknown1
Atika PurwaningtyasAffiliation unknown1
Abdurrachman FaridiAffiliation unknown1
Prima PuspitasariAffiliation unknown1
Rudi HartonoAffiliation unknown1
Abdul Malik Al HakimAffiliation unknown1
Hariyadi HariyadiAffiliation unknown1
Ana TherianaAffiliation unknown1
Khatarina RustipaAffiliation unknown1
Ramiro Santiago IkhsanAffiliation unknown1
Ripda ErwinAffiliation unknown1
Asti Veto MortiniAffiliation unknown1
Juan Carlos RodriguezAffiliation unknown1
Dennis Audria PramanaAffiliation unknown1
Syifa' Zhafirah YumnaAffiliation unknown1
Nada Kamila ChairunisaAffiliation unknown1
Sabrina Indah KumalaAffiliation unknown1
Miftahul JanahAffiliation unknown1
Oxa Ardyan FathuroziAffiliation unknown1
Angga Brian FernandiAffiliation unknown1
Fatma HetamiAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/rainbow/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Promises and Lies: Speech Act Analysis of Character Dialogue in The Great Gatsby</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Septiandiko, Ergi Wian</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Haryanti, Rahayu Puji</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Speech Act</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">The Great Gatsby</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">character dialogue</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">promises and lies</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Pragmatic Analysis</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Characters in literature perform actions that influence stories in addition to communicating information. Scholars have yet to fully examine the speech act aspect of character interactions in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In order to close this gap, this study looks at how lies and promises in The Great Gatsby serve as illocutionary acts that highlight important themes and disclose interpersonal dynamics. The analysis, which is based on Speech Act Theory (Austin and Searle), focusses on insincere assertives (lies) and commissives (promises) in a few dialogue exchanges, especially those involving Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. The study explores how characters' verbal promises and lies propel the story and represent themes of delusion, idealism, treachery, and the American Dream through a qualitative analysis of these exchanges. The analysis shows that Daisy's broken promises and Gatsby's extravagant promises and made-up backstory are more than just empty rhetoric; they deliberately create illusions and reveal hidden power dynamics and emotional undertones in the relationships between the characters. Fitzgerald's criticism of illusion and disillusionment is ultimately highlighted by this pragmatic lens, which also demonstrates how crucial the speech acts of characters that promise and lie are to comprehending the novel's messages about trust, treachery, and the American Dream.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-07-31</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/rainbow/article/view/30333</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/rainbow.v14i.30333</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies; Vol. 14 (2025): Special Issue; 93-102</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2721-4540</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2252-6323</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/rainbow.v14i</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/rainbow/article/view/30333/5513</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Ergi Wian Septiandiko, Rahayu Puji Haryanti (Author)</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>