Literary Analysis: The Great Gatsby
Weather can alter mood not just within ourselves, but it can be equally atmospheric in literature as well. Although it is not a dominant symbol, the weather in The Great Gatsby is nonetheless an important emblem that metaphorically reveals the character’s emotions while establishing the narrative tone. Fitzgerald uses the weather to establish the moods for every scene, and each change in mood serves as an indication of each character’s state of being. In doing this, Fitzgerald uses the weather to reveal larger themes of the text centric to dishonesty and the lack of morality, especially amongst the upper class.
In chapter 5 upon Gatsby’s request, there are plans made for a …show more content…
The word choice of ‘pouring’ is pivotal to the sentence because it intensifies “the invisible but alarming happenings taking place outside” (89). This then reflects the intense nervousness Gatsby is experiencing internally after years passing between Daisy and him seeing each other. While waiting for Daisy’s arrival, Gatsby was becoming quite anxious and frequently ‘peered through bleared windows’ until he announced ‘in an uncertain voice that he was going home.’ Gatsby peering through the bleared windows is significant to this scene because both literally and figuratively speaking Gatsby’s vision is clouded. As unclear as the window is, the same obscurity is reciprocated in his mind. Describing Gatsby’s tone as ‘uncertain’ is also crucial in establishing the mood of this passage because it further confirms the vagueness Gatsby is feeling towards the situation at hand; Gatsby not knowing if reuniting with Daisy after all this time was a good idea or not. The ambivalence that is presented in Gatsby and in this scene in general …show more content…
Upon meeting Dan Cody, “it was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach” (...) ‘but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a row boat’ (…) ‘he invented Jay Gatsby and to this conception he was faithful till the end.” (104) The symbol of weather weaves itself into this brief passage when Gatsby has his first encounter with this new character Dan Cody. He ‘informs Cody that a wind might catch him and break him up in half an hour.’ This advice not only served as a warning to his newfound sailor friend, but it also foreshadows to the tremendous change that will soon take place in Gatsby's life. Fitzgerald’s precise phrasing like “might catch him” paired with “break him up” are indicators to the readers that the next stages of Gatsby’s life will be turbulent and tainted with greed, power, and money. Fitzgerald uses the word “might” to imply to the readers that there was a chance of Gatsby avoiding this corrupted lifestyle. This diction reveals to the readers that Gatsby had the option to make the right choices but because he didn’t, it serves as foreshadowing that eventually the immorality he lives regularly will catch up with him and break him apart. The inclusion of the weather to this passage plays a crucial role to the novel’s theme because ‘it
Weather can alter mood not just within ourselves, but it can be equally atmospheric in literature as well. Although it is not a dominant symbol, the weather in The Great Gatsby is nonetheless an important emblem that metaphorically reveals the character’s emotions while establishing the narrative tone. Fitzgerald uses the weather to establish the moods for every scene, and each change in mood serves as an indication of each character’s state of being. In doing this, Fitzgerald uses the weather to reveal larger themes of the text centric to dishonesty and the lack of morality, especially amongst the upper class.
In chapter 5 upon Gatsby’s request, there are plans made for a …show more content…
The word choice of ‘pouring’ is pivotal to the sentence because it intensifies “the invisible but alarming happenings taking place outside” (89). This then reflects the intense nervousness Gatsby is experiencing internally after years passing between Daisy and him seeing each other. While waiting for Daisy’s arrival, Gatsby was becoming quite anxious and frequently ‘peered through bleared windows’ until he announced ‘in an uncertain voice that he was going home.’ Gatsby peering through the bleared windows is significant to this scene because both literally and figuratively speaking Gatsby’s vision is clouded. As unclear as the window is, the same obscurity is reciprocated in his mind. Describing Gatsby’s tone as ‘uncertain’ is also crucial in establishing the mood of this passage because it further confirms the vagueness Gatsby is feeling towards the situation at hand; Gatsby not knowing if reuniting with Daisy after all this time was a good idea or not. The ambivalence that is presented in Gatsby and in this scene in general …show more content…
Upon meeting Dan Cody, “it was James Gatz who had been loafing along the beach” (...) ‘but it was already Jay Gatsby who borrowed a row boat’ (…) ‘he invented Jay Gatsby and to this conception he was faithful till the end.” (104) The symbol of weather weaves itself into this brief passage when Gatsby has his first encounter with this new character Dan Cody. He ‘informs Cody that a wind might catch him and break him up in half an hour.’ This advice not only served as a warning to his newfound sailor friend, but it also foreshadows to the tremendous change that will soon take place in Gatsby's life. Fitzgerald’s precise phrasing like “might catch him” paired with “break him up” are indicators to the readers that the next stages of Gatsby’s life will be turbulent and tainted with greed, power, and money. Fitzgerald uses the word “might” to imply to the readers that there was a chance of Gatsby avoiding this corrupted lifestyle. This diction reveals to the readers that Gatsby had the option to make the right choices but because he didn’t, it serves as foreshadowing that eventually the immorality he lives regularly will catch up with him and break him apart. The inclusion of the weather to this passage plays a crucial role to the novel’s theme because ‘it