What Does Money Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

Symbolism In The Great Gatsby

In novels, the use of symbols add flavor and meaning to those who care to look for them, and thus makes them near-essential to understanding an author’s purpose. Symbols are hidden messages in the form of objects or dialogue within the story that the author uses to communicate with the reader a deeper understanding, even if deep analyzation is not uncommon in such communication. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, better known as F. Scott Fitzgerald, connects the different symbols throughout his novel, The Great Gatsby, to pinpoint an elaborate meaning towards the story that may not be so obvious at first contact. Symbols such as “color” or “money” are more often than not caught on to in a single dry run of a text. Whereas

a symbol as complicated as the “eye”, whether intentional or not, may have multiple meanings, and as a result many unanswered question left to the personal interpretation of the reader. Throughout The Great Gatsby, symbolism is present in the fine details of color, the notorious overlooking eyes, and the riches of upper class New York City.
The color symbolism is a consistently present detail throughout the novel, which represents the different characters personality and the character’s actions, as well as retaining their basic properties of emotional representation. Starting with some of the lesser covered colors is emphasis of the color yellow, which portrayed decay and corruption. This is a highly contributing factor to the importance of Gatsby’s yellow car as symbolism in the novel. It is foreshadowing of the reckless events to be involved with the vehicle, namely the vehicular homicide and following crash involved with the car. It became the main topic upon the town’s people after it crashed into a ditch, killing Myrtle Wilson and being witnessed by a friend who specified the accident to Wilson’s husband, George. This is a large contributor to the increasing sense of dullness throughout the novel. Following the murder of his wife, he falls into a grey mist of depression, and is described as “pale” and “glazed” as he is the bearer of lifelessness in the novel. Lastly to mention is the most obvious, that being red, which represents love and war, as well as blood, which, in itself, represents death.
One of two core symbolic colors in The Great Gatsby is the color green. The color green itself is associated with spring, money, hope and youth. A specific and notable example of green symbolism is the green light that is reached to by the title character, Jay Gatsby, in a dream conjured by the narrator, Nick Carraway. The light is representative of hope for Daisy’s return, but also the hazy future. Nick stated that Gatsby believes in the green light, the “organic future”. Although the green light is the future, Gatsby is still wrapped up with the dreams of the past. White traditionally symbolizes purity and innocence, and there is no doubt that Fitzgerald wants to underscore the ironic disparity between the ostensible purity of Daisy and Jordan and their actual corruption.
Another important symbol which isn’t mentioned as much in the novel is the color blue. It represents a lost time and a fantasy of a different world. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes – which are painted upon the billboard across Wilson’s auto shop-, are blue, perhaps symbolizing a higher world from which God looks down upon the scene. The many color symbols that are present throughout the novel can be confusing and often missed if the reader does not look for them.
Eyes are symbols that Fitzgerald uses to expose the constant watchful and different perspective of the people in the Great Gatsby. Owl-eyes is the only one that realized that Gatsby was putting on a show, the first time they met in the library. He was in complete disbelief of Gatsby’s “real books” in his library, which made it even more fascinating. The nickname Owl-eyes is ironic for this drunken man, but in his clear insight, he is wise. Fitzgerald introduced Owl-eyes in a way that the readers are immediately critical, but then changes after using a positive attitude toward the drunken man. Like Nick, Owl-eyes is imperfect, but they are the only two characters Fitzgerald portrays as moral and the only two friends who attended Gatsby's funeral. Owl Eyes represents the human form of the T.J. Eckelburg sign in the Valley of Ashes, across from Wilson's auto shop. Dr. T.J. Eckelburg “blue and gigantic” eyes are more that what’s’ painted upon a billboard. “They look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose." His huge and unblinking celestial eyes add the presence of something higher that constantly watches and looks down upon the human scene. As Wilson takes myrtle to the window, he tells her she “. . .can’t fool god”. It becomes very apparent that Fitzgerald is talking about the eyes of God looking over the world but Nick describes it as a “dumping ground”. Both the eyes of Dr. T.J Eckleburg and god are always watching them. The "eyes of Dr. Eckelburg" are clearly the most symbolic element of the narrative and represent F. Scott Fitzgerald's main conception and feature idea. The eyes embody the corruption of society, the eyes of an omnipotent God and imply human carelessness and mistreatment mostly towards wealth.
In "The Great Gatsby" money is one of the most important things in the world.

If one has no money, he is no one in society. Money affects different people in different ways throughout the novel. Gatsby made his life what it is due to daisy’s greed for wealth and social class. Gatsby throws huge magnificent parties, hoping that it’ll attract Daisy one day but instead it only leads him to being used by people. Money is Gatsby’s means to obtain the American dream. It meant that he’ll finally have a chance at getting Daisy yet, it turned out to be an obstacle. Gatsby gained wealth to impress Daisy he had what was considered "new money" and he tried to hide his wealth from people so that Daisy would not find out. The "new money" was money that was earned through an occupation or some operation. Gatsby earned his money through illegal actions with the mob and bootlegging alcohol. People who had "old money" received their money through their family as it was passed from generation to generation. These people came from East Egg and included in this group was Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is continually searching for happiness outside of herself because she has a lack of inner values and true confidence. The effect money has upon her is that she’s married to a wealthy man in which she says she loves but her love for Tom is influenced by his wealth, which is considered as “old money”. It is ironic that Tom’s scorn for Gatsby is based on his background – Gatsby’s lack of money, education, and class – and not the fact that Gatsby has been sleeping with his wife. Tom and Daisy flirt from here to there without a care in the world. That’s what their money allows. While it’s easy to see why most people would envy them, they seem to have no purpose in their lives beyond cultivating their reputations and spending money. Unlike the rest of the characters in the story, George is not wealthy or corrupted by his money and greed. However, unfortunately the wealth and greed of other people is his

undoing. Gatsby’s ill-gotten money brought sorrow, death and no happiness or love in his forsaken life. Money slowly took over their society as a whole, causing ethical and moral decay in the people.
Throughout the great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses great deal of symbols to portray a deeper level of meaning towards the reader. The use of colors is to express the different overview of the characters personality. Being in a society where everyone’s eyes are always watching, influences one to do unusual things like revolving there life around exploring for treasures, due to love. Yet, many may ask, was it worth it? Is dedicating one’s life to making others happy, gratifying? One may never know!