Symbolism in The Great Gatsby and The Raven

Symbols are secret messages that are embedded in the texts of literature. Some symbols are more well-known and better understood than others. Authors use symbols to tell how they are feeling (Overview). The symbols in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe are very different; however, they are still very important throughout both pieces of literature.

Throughout The Great Gatsby the narrator, Nick, describes the colors that the characters wear and colors that are shown throughout the novel. The colors serve as major symbols in the book. “Daisy’s white wardrobe, the image of the green light across the bay, the yellow coupe- each color represents a character trait or idea (Weisbrod, 105).” Gold is one of the more symbolic colors in the story and is shown many times throughout the book. The color gold represents money, wealth, and the extravagance of the rich; however, it can also represent death. Although Gatsby hides the fact that he does not have a lot of money, his yellow car symbolizes that he pretends to be wealthy and how he wants people to perceive him as a rich man for Daisy. When Daisy was in Gatsby’s yellow car, she ran over and killed Myrtle, Tom’s mistress. The color lavender, most seen throughout the book and one of the more prominent colors in the story is also a symbol. Lavender represents royalty and nobility. Daisy was very wealthy and was looked upon as a royal citizen. She is always seen dressed in lavender and that is her favorite color. The inside of Gatsby’s mansion had many things that were the color lavender. Throughout the story he is often seen wearing lavender shirts. “The rich rainbow of shirt colors that explode from Gatsby’s armoire emphasizes the richness and...

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...ce the passing of his love. The chamber, in which the narrator is positioned, is used to signify the loneliness of the man, and the sorrow he feels for the loss of Lenore. The room has rich furnishing, and reminds the narrator of his lost love, which helps to create an effect of beauty in the poem. The tempest outside, is used even more to signify the isolation of this man, to show a sharp contrast between the calmness in the chamber and the tempestuous night.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven, symbolism is prominent in both. Authors use symbolism to connect emotion with different things throughout literature.

Works Cited

Weisbrod, Eva. A Students Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Berkeley Heights:

Enslow, 2004. Print.

McArthur, Debra. A Student's Guide to Edgar Allen Poe. Berkeley: Enslow, 2004.

Print.