The American Dream F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is about a love triangle between Gatsby, Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Gatsby wants Daisy all to himself but she is married to her careless husband Tom. E.E Cummings’ poem “anyone lived in a pretty how town” is about how any and everyone just hopes for better in their town. Both the novel and poem convey a similar theme in their works through the use of tone, imagery, diction, symbolism and motifs. Both selections are about the American dream and reveal that in order to achieve one’s dream one cannot just hope and be careless with others. This careless tone is prevalent in both the book and the poem. In chapter 7 Tom and Gatsby were arguing about who Daisy loves. Gatsby is making Daisy …show more content…
say false things. On page 132 Gatsby says, “It doesn’t matter anymore. Just tell the truth that you never loved him and it is wiped out forever” (Fitzgerald). Gatsby did not care about how Daisy felt about the argument, he just wants her to himself like he always hoped for. In line 5 of the poem it says “they said their nerves slept their dreams” (Cummings). The people in the town are just sleeping their lives away and just hoping their dreams will come true. In lines 25/26 in the poem it says, “one day anyone died i guess (and noone stooped to kiss his face)” (Cummings). The people did not care that anyone died and just went on with their lives. This careless tone allows readers to have a deeper understanding of how harmful just hoping can be to one’s life. Color imagery is used in both works to highlight the loss of innocence. The color white in the novel represents Daisy and how it shows purity and innocence but it is really a cover-up. In chapter 4 on page 74 it says, she dressed in white (Fitzgerald). Also in chapter 9 on page 179 Fitzgerald writes, “they smashed up things and creatures and then back to their money or their vast carelessness.” These quotes describe how Daisy lost her purity and innocence over time, so she could never achieve her true dream of marrying the guy she really loved. In chapter In line 15 it says, “bird by snow and stir by still” (Cummings). The snow represents the children’s innocence and how that sense fades away as they become adults. It shows that as the children grow and lose innocence they start to care more about their American dream. This color imagery shows how the characters see themselves as pure and innocent but the readers know and see the reality in them and know that they are not pure and innocent people. Finally, both authors also use symbolism and motifs to highlight the theme.
In line 2 of the poem it says, “with up so floating many bell down” (Cummings). The bells represent the ups and downs of life. People think that it is easier to just hope instead of going through the downfalls to be successful and achieve their lifetime dream. This is evident in line 19 of the poem when Cummings describes the someones and everyones who just “sleep wake hope and then” their way through life. These people are just going through life hoping things will change but nothing is changing because they are not working for the change they dream of. In addition, the seasons, “spring summer autumn winter,” are used to represent the passing of time and how “most people” sit there and hope while their lives still go on the same (Cummings 19). Fitzgerald also uses the greenlight as a symbol of hope. On page 180 Fitzgerald writes, “Gatsby believed in the greenlight.” The greenlight represents Daisy in Gatsby’s eyes and in everyone else's it is a hope of a dream. Gatsby thought he could just hope Daisy would come back to him and everything would be like it was five years ago. What he failed to realize was that no matter how hard one works, it is impossible to repeat the past. The use of these symbols reinforces the theme the authors wanted to
convey. Both Fitzgerald and Cummings show the readers how harmful a careless life of hoping can be. Readers learn that is not good to just stand around and just hope for things; they have to work for it in order to be successful. Children today have amazing dreams of becoming what they want to be. They know in order to do that they have to go through school and get good grades, and go to college to get to that dream.
...s motivation to reach into Daisy’s heart is the downfall that lead to Gatsby’s persistent nature which concentrate solely the past, Also, emptiness of existence with realization to taint ideal, Gatsby’s heart fill with illusions. As a great man his death overflows with generosity and kindness that people did not notice. The good man Gatsby’s death is a tragic, but in the end it’s another meaningless loss that buried as a lonely hero.
Fitzgerald has an in-depth writing style. He uses symbols through out the text, which highlight key ideas, some are more obvious than others although all are effective. He has added detail to the smallest of things and every component of this text has a meaning. Fitzgerald has used many symbols thought this text some which include a green light, representing what Gatsby dreams of having and what he can’t reach, the Valley of Ashes, where people like George and Myrtle Wilson live - people who are not very wealthy - . the eyes of T.J Eckleburg, who is represented very alike to God who is known to see everything that happens, the clock, which is knocked over by Gatsby symbolising that Gatsby and Daisy have caught up in time and the weather which symbolises the atmosphere between
Symbolism is immensely spread through this novel, as well as an immerse amount of color. For example, the green light gatsby strives for. Gatsby states that the "single green light" on Daisy's dock that Gatsby gazes wistfully at from his own house across the water represents the "unattainable dream," the "dream [that] must
The green light represents Gatsby’s own dream throughout the novel; to be with Daisy, but at this moment when he’s reaching for his dream he is depicting the drive and struggle within anyone who has attempted to achieve the American dream. The metaphorical and in this instant literal reaching for the dream that is so close you could nearly touch it if you reached far enough. Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s reaching for the green light to symbolize the need to obtain each person’s own dream, the dream that is said to be easily obtained with hard work and determination. Later Nick finds himself at a party at Gatsby’s, one that only he has been invited to despite the hundreds of guests, he is taken aback by the fact that Gatsby is nowhere to be found. One day Nick and Gatsby are invited to lunch with Daisy and Tom and the group end up going to the city to escape the bore of the incredible August heat.
The green light symbolizes a dream just out of his grasp. Both the light and Daisy are located across the bay and he can see both within eyeshot. Interpreting this symbol can correlate with the plot because by the first chapter, readers get a glimpse into Gatsby’s situation with Daisy without any dialogue except narration. Nick Carraway, the narrator, notices Gatsby hang behind and look out into the bay cryptically: “... he stretched his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, … Involuntarily I glanced seaward - and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” (Fitzgerald 26). This quote can also symbolize Jay Gatsby’s devotion for Daisy, as Nick says he sees “nothing except” the light, perhaps as Gatsby sees her as well. Color is a recurring device Fitzgerald uses, so the color represents a green light “go” The distance represents a theme of unattainability in pursuing Daisy, as she is preoccupied with marriage. So, the green light symbolizes elusiveness, introduces the contention between Gatsby and Daisy, and intertwines a theme of longing for a dream just out of
He also uses the strategy of irony. Irony is used to convey the theme because in the beginning of the book Daisy is upset that Tom has a Mistress and is cheating on her. But then Daisy cheats on Tom with Gatsby. spouses shouldn't cheat on each other no matter what.
We must keep standing up when we fall, and keep trying when we fail. With failure, one seeks to overcome shortcomings by seeking a better future. As time progresses, Fitzgerald explores Jay Gatsby’s long desire for Daisy and emphasizes and his optimism for the future. Fitzgerald uses optimistic diction to express Gatsby’s view on the future when he states, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us” (180). Gatsby yearns for a future with Daisy, and truly attempts to look for the “green light” in each situation. The color green represents hope and new beginnings. Fitzgerald utilized the color green to serve as a color of optimism and positivity. Gatsby desires and hopes for a love that he cannot get, and still believes he can find a way to achieve his goals. Jay Gatsby greatly anticipates for a brighter “orgastic future.” The usage of “light” symbolizes something that can be reached for, but never possessed. Jay Gatsby gets really close to Daisy, but can never truly reach her, and...
Insincere? The definition is not expressing genuine feelings. This was a trait that was possessed by many people in the time period of the 1920’s. The detrimental effects of war and post-war life left many people questioning if genuine people still existed in the world. This was shown by two extremely influential writers of this time period, F. Scott Fitzgerald and E.E. Cummings, whose engrossment in the insincere life of others inspired and influenced them to write on it. F. Scott Fitzgerald, writer of the novel The Great Gatsby, and E.E. Cummings, writer of the poem “anyone lived in a pretty how town”, convey a similar theme in their works through the use of tone, imagery, and motifs. Both selections are about the insincerity and carelessness
As Fitzgerald wrote in the book, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…. And one fine morning——,” (Fitzgerald 180). This is a quote that inspires hope. It tells us that someday we could run faster and do even greater things. In the same quote about hope, the green light is mentioned. The light is explained through this hope of a better day. Barbara Will explained this quote by saying, “What matters to Gatsby is what matters to "us"; Gatsby's story is "our" story; his fate and the fate of the nation are intertwined. That Gatsby "turned out all right in the end" is thus essential…” (Will) The light, which symbolizes hope, mattered to Gatsby, and she explains that that should also matter to us. Gatsby turned out okay, so others who believe in the hope that light symbolizes should be okay as
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. And then one fine morning— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” (180). Situated at the end of Daisy’s East Egg dock and barely visible from Gatsby’s West Egg lawn, the green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. Gatsby associates it with Daisy, and in Chapter 1 he reaches toward it in the darkness as a guiding light to lead him to his goal. Fitzgerald illustrates Daisy as a symbol of wealth, success, dreams, beauty, marriage, motherhood, and she ultimately encompasses the idealistic American Dream. However, t...
Nick describes Gatsby as “one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life(Ch.3).” Such description unifies the appearance of Gatsby with people’s expectation of a man who accomplished the American dream. The obsession with wealth often blinds people from the potential crisis. The crisis of having everything they worked and struggled for redefined if the reality fails them. Just like strivers who chase the American dream, Gatsby also spent his whole life in pursuit of his American dream, which Daisy was a major component of.
“Anyone lived in a pretty how town,” by E.E. Cummings, is a poem that alludes to the circle of life and how birth and death are a natural part of this cycle. This meaning is conveyed by a complex metaphor; broken down, this metaphor slides away to reveal the true social commentary behind it. This poem is an allegory; the speaker uses pronouns with unclear antecedents to mask the true meaning and add poetic flair to the simple belief he or she presents.
One of the most evident symbols in this piece is the green light. The distant and faint light is a symbol of Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future, but also the past. Gatsby sees the green light from the edge of his dock and presumes that it is
The color green can signify many things in the everyday life, people may think of it as “go” or as something positive. F. Scott Fitzgerald is an author known to use a lot of symbolism in his writings. In his famous novel, “the Great Gatsby”, Fitzgerald uses the color green to represent various things. His use of the color green represents mostly what Gatsby desires most in life, but he also includes it to represent little things that need thinking to figure out. In Fitzgerald’s novel, when we notice for the first time the color green, it is obvious that one of its significances would be hope.
This is an example of objectification. Knowing that Daisy has somewhat moved on from her past with him, Gatsby tries to relive it and form an unrealistic idea of her. By doing this, he throws massive parties in his mansion and purchases expensive shirts in hopes of Daisy becoming a part of his dream. When Gatsby has Daisy, he tries to manipulate her to conform to be the perfect ideal girl. In Chapter 7, Gatsby is making decisions for Daisy without her input and consent, claiming that Daisy is leaving Tom when it wasn’t true. He also expected Daisy to say that she never loved Tom when, once again, was not true. He truly did not care for her opinion, only on achieving his dream. Though it may have seemed that Daisy is the one that destroyed Gatsby’s dream, it’s really Gatsby who causes the destruction to his American Dream in which Daisy was a victim