How Does Fitzgerald Use Water In The Great Gatsby

The Buchanans have a “ membership to rather distinguished secret society”(Fitzgerald, 22), since they live in East Egg, an area known for old money within Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. In contrast people who live in West Egg, such as Gatsby are never as highly regarded, especially from those in the elite group, solely because they come from new money. In the novel, Fitzgerald uses bodies of water as a way to showcase Gatsby’s attempt to join the elite class. Fitzgerald uses water as a motif to highlight that in a world that associates generational wealth to social status, a person who comes from a family of poverty may attempt to escape their past by using new money as a way to cover up their actual self. Although they may achieve the illusion of being from old money, they can never fully move on with their lives until they can accept their familial roots. …show more content…
“Witnessed the beginning of his career – when he saw Dan Cody's yacht drop anchor over the most insidious flat on Lake Superior. (4.6)”. The word “beginning” means the start of something fresh or new. The word “insidious” means the continuous growth that ultimately results harmfully. When Gatsby saw “Dan Cody’s yacht drop anchor” he took the opportunity as a way to reinvent himself almost as if it was the ‘beginning’ of his existence. As well,referring to the lake as ‘insidious’ foresees that Gatsby will first experience the life and level of achievement that he has only illusioned for himself, but will ultimately face the consequences of trying to cover up his past . Fitzgerald uses the fateful meeting on Lake Superior to show that a person can never fully escape their