Possessions In The Great Gatsby Summary

“Possessions in the Great Gatsby” by Scott Donaldson is an article about how both physical and metaphorical possessions help to advance the symbolism and plot of The Great Gatsby. not only do they go into detail about The great Gatsby, they also show how this is done in other novels by fitzgerald and goes on to relate this symbolism back to The great Gatsby. In terms of physical possessions this article talks about how the way that the different characters choices in clothing reveal certain characteristics about them. For example, the way that Gatsby dresses shows that he is newly rich and new to the elevated social class; in turn, this leads to other aspects about him like his car and the lavish parties he throws. Likewise, The same can be

seen in the description of tom’s choice in clothing. "`An Oxford man!' [Tom] was incredulous. `Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit.'" Yes, and for tea a white flannel suit with silver shirt and gold tie.” (possessions 2). The choice in clothing in this excerpt shows that Tom is, unlike Gatsby, accustomed to the life of the rich and established in the higher social class. These descriptions of possessions in The Great Gatsby go on to illustrate the deeper realization of how Gatsby will eventually fail to win daisy’s love over Tom.
In “Possessions in the Great Gatsby,” Donaldson does an effective job at explaining how lists, physical possessions and metaphorical possessions help to advance symbolism and motifs in The Great Gatsby.
As mentioned earlier, an important aspect in “Possessions in the Great Gatsby” is lists. In This article there are several lists that are mentioned but one of the most prominent is the list of people who have attended Gatsby’s summer parties. Nick’s list of the people who attended Gatsby’s summer parties carries importance because it indicates that Gatsby does not necessarily fit into a certain group. The wide variety of people who have attended his parties come from all around and are rather trivial characters, but they contribute to the bigger picture of the book.
Physical possessions help to deepen the understanding of The Great Gatsby because they show outwards sign of the characters. First the way that people dress shows how they feel towards themselves. For example, gatsby’s way of dress indicates that he, in a sense, does not fully know what to do with his newfound wealth. Tom Buchanan dresses in a fashion that shows he is accustomed to his wealth. He wear different outfits for all of his daily activities and dresses as much as if not more extravagantly than Gatsby.
Intangible possessions also play an important role in the development of the plot. Metaphorical possessions such as the love of daisy in Tom and Gatsby’s case and social status are even more prized than tangible objects. Another important asset that Gatsby wishes to have is the ability to change the past. This is revealed through the anxiousness when he meets Daisy again. Another possession is Tom’s prejudice towards others. This reveals the eventual loss of those close to him at the end of the book.
Both real and imaginary possessions help to deepen the symbolism in The Great Gatsby. They open up another way of interpreting the story and lead to a fuller understanding of that way that the characters function in relation to each other.