The Great Gatsby House Imagery

In his novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s house as a mirror that reflects its proprietors state of being, soundness of mind, and emotions through the use of imagery, symbolism, and variance in tone. As a reader progresses through Gatsby, they are introduced to several versions of and exposed to rumors about the mysterious Mr. Gatsby. However, no one knows his true nature or motives. The only gleam of an understanding the reader acquires of Gatsby comes from outsiders and party goers, and from Gatsby’s less-than-humble abode. A reader learns much from examining the imagery used to describe Gatsby’s home, as it reveals surprisingly valuable information about its sole inhabitant: “...It was a factual imitation of the …show more content…
It was once described by Nick with wonder and excitement, but that evolved later in the novel into desperation and gloom: “There was an inexplicable amount of dust everywhere, and the rooms were musty, as though they hadn’t been aired for many days...” As Gatsby agonizes over Daisy, questioning whether Tom would do something to hurt her, and the house seems to respond to his stress. The manse seems to detect and react to Gatsby’s bodily health as well: In chapter nine after Gatsby died, for instance, “the grass on his lawn was almost as long as [Nick’s]” and “obscene words” were written on the house’s abandoned steps with a brick. At this point, Gatsby’s residence is just as dead as he is. In short, Gatsby’s mansion is an extension of its keeper- it looks the same as Gatsby feels; when Gatsby is in good health and good spirits, the house seems to radiate his same vitality. As stress causes havoc upon his mind, the house grows dark, dirty and dismal. As death takes Gatsby, the house loses its luster and vivacity and vibrancy-- what was once beautiful, mysterious and mystical becomes a horrid picture of expiry and