Symbolism
When a book, article, movie, or novel uses symbolism, it’s usually to make a point to the reader that develops deeper thinking and understanding of the book or novel as a whole. This is seen within F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby(1925) for it is chalked full of it and is used so often that the reader can come across at least five examples of symbolism within each chapter.
The theme of the story The Great Gatsby is the american dream, or the lack there is of it. It is the desire to obtain this dream and keep it. The dream is a sensation unlike any other. Nick is introduced to this sensation when he’s introduced to Gatsby “He smiled understandingly- much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality
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Involuntarily I glanced seaward-and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of a dock.” (pg 20-21) Later on in the story that said dock will turn out to be Daisy’s dock, but before Gatsby left to go fight in Europe during WWI he and Daisy were a couple and Daisy promised Gatsby that she would wait until he got back from the war so that they could be married. However, while Gatsby was away, Daisy married Tom Buchanan and Gatsby only found out after the war when he returned to America. Now wishing that he was there for Daisy, Gatsby is forever reaching out towards this light, trying in some form or manner to relive the past. And he believes he can do it ““Can’t repeat the past?” he cried incredulously. “Why of course you can!” He looked around him wildly, as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house, just out of reach of his hand. “I’m going to fix everything just the way it was before,” he said, nodding determinedly. “She’ll see.”” (pg 110) This just further proves that Gatsby is living in the past while everyone else is living in the
Gatsby is unrealistic. He believes he can relive the past and rekindle the flame he and Daisy once had. He is lost in his dream and accepts that anything can be repeated, "Can't repeat the past…Why of course you can!" (116, Fitzgerald). For Gatsby, failure to realize this resurrection of love is utterly appalling. His whole career, his conception of himself and his life is totally shattered. Gatsby's death when it comes is almost insignificant, for with the collapse of his dream, he is spiritually dead.
Symbolism plays an important role in any novel of literary merit. From objects, to traits, to the way something is portrayed, it can have a whole different meaning. Like death and taxes, there is no escaping color. It is ubiquitous. In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald displays a superior use of symbols such as color, light, and heat. Fitzgerald’s superior use of color as a symbol is the focus of this essay.
There are many writers like James Joyce, Patrick Kananach and Thomas Moore who use symbolism to convey and support indirect meaning in their writings. J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald both use symbolism in similar ways. In both “The Catcher In The Rye” and “The Great Gatsby”, the authors used symbolism to convey emotions and reality.
The Great Gatsby, a novel by Scott Fitzgerald, is about the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to reach its impossible goals. The attempt to capture the American Dream is used in many novels. This dream is different for different people; but, in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that through wealth and power, one can acquire happiness. To get this happiness Jay must reach into the past and relive an old dream; and, in order to do this, he must have wealth and power.
out towards a green light. At the time it is not revealed to us that this
15 Apr. 2013. The. Symbolism in the Great Gatsby.
There are many types of symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby. Probably the easiest to recognize were the colors and what they symbolized. The most obvious colors to point out would have to be green and white. Green supported feelings of many thoughts, ideas, and changes that Gatsby experienced throughout the story. It also represented peace and determination. White represented innocence and serenity. Another example of symbolism is when Gatsby broke the clock in Nick's house. This symbolized the factor that time played throughout the characters' lives.
In novels, the use of symbols makes the story interesting and essential to the readers. Symbols are messages that the author uses to communicate with the reader for a deeper understanding, although sometimes it can only be discovered if analyzed. Fitzgerald connects the different symbols throughout the novel to pinpoint an elaborate meaning towards the story yet it does indicate a pleasant meaning. A symbol such as “color” or “money” can be less complex than it seems. Whereas a symbol as complicated as the “eye” can mean more than it’s suggested for. Throughout The Great Gatsby symbolism represent color, the existence of eyes and money.
Another theme that is used is the American dream. Gatsby himself is a believer in the American dream of self-made success. During the book, we learn that he had created himself out of nothing, that his whole life is merely fiction. Gatsby remained fully committed to his dream of being socially accepted to the end. Therefore he never comprehends that his strive for success and social acceptance led him to his deathbed. That is why Gatsby is a prime example of the American dream.
Symbolism can mean and represent a wide variety of ideas, moments and memories in everyone's lives. In the novel The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, colors, names and objects symbolize different personalities, and ideas of the characters. Some of the symbols are more obvious and easier to pick up on than others.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, is full of symbolism, which is portrayed by the houses and cars in an array of ways. One of the more important qualities of symbolism within The Great Gatsby is the way in which it is so completely incorporated into the plot and structure. Symbols, such as Gatsby's house and car, symbolize material wealth.
Past is that puzzle that can be delightful to remember but trying to chase it is like a dog chasing its own tail, and throughout the novel F. Scott Fitzgerald shows how abnormal the minds become when it is still beating in the past.The narrator introducing the main character for the first time, but not countering a verbal conversation but has a sight of him where he “decided to call to him, but for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone- he stretched out his arm toward the dark water in a curious way.” (Fitzgerald 20). This caused Gatsby to have the motive of reach out for the past before he met the sources that led to his goal or love of his life Daisy Buchanan. As a result his ego and his anxiety increases to a point where he tries to grab more than fate wrote for both of them, and when the person or thing have moved on or belongs to someone else then it is never too late to move on with your life. Gatsby stretched out his arm towards the green light; minute or far way, that was the dock of Daisy’s house. Along the same line the light does not represent the past but it was a light of hope for Gatsby that Fitzgerald convey that even it is across the bay he tends to try to reach for her even its physically impossible to do. Hence the disillusionment is what Fitzgerald is trying to convey that if a mind is still living in the past then it disarrays from the present along with the future. “His [Gatsby] tragedy lies in the ...
His watch over her window is compared to a vigil, and while Nick talked to Gatsby that night, he felt that his presence was ruining the “sacredness” of the moment. However, Gatsby’s vigil was over. Daisy was never in her room that night, much like Gatsby’s dream of being a nonexistent person. The Daisy he met and fell in love with years ago is not the same person anymore, and as much as Gatsby thinks that he can repeat the past, in the real world it is proven to be impossible.... ...
Symbolism is a very important device in Fitzgerald's 1926 masterpiece, The Great Gatsby. Different objects, words or actions symbolize different character traits for each person depicted in his novel. Through symbolism, Fitzgerald manages to describe three completely different aspects of the human life. He conveys the glittery, magnificent life of the rich, the gray, ugly and desperate life of the poor, and the mundane struggles of those in between.
F. Scott Fitzgerald is the master of symbolism. Symbolism plays a vital part in two of his most famous novels, The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night. From the valley of ashes to “Daddy’s Girl”, Fitzgerald weaves symbols throughout his novels that help the plot to thicken and progress. They also allow readers to look at the novels in a more analytical point of view, which makes the novels more interesting to read. Fitzgerald’s symbols truly make his works a pleasure to read.