One quote can be used to analyze the entire novel: The Great Gatsby. The story has a simplicity that can be combined into a few sentences as the entirety of the novel can be condensed into the romantic relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. However, there is also a complexity that can be further derived throughout the rest of the story. This complexity can be seen through Fitzgerald’s use of different motifs. By displaying Gatsby’s status, grasp on reality, and dreams, Fitzgerald uses the motifs of light, death, and water to further develop the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy.
Through the motif of light, Fitzgerald is signifying a promise of hope and fulfillment. It was a “light” knock at which Daisy entered the room and thus entered …show more content…
When Nick first opens the door, Gatsby is as “pale as death” thus alluding to the beginning of the end for Gatsby. When Daisy sided with Tom in New York, Gatsby looked as “as if he had ‘killed a man’”(134) implying his identity had been killed. The sole purpose of Jay Gatsby was to be with Daisy, after it was clear that Gatsby could not be with her, the entirety of his new identity was destroyed. Without a purpose, there was no Jay Gatsby. The death of Gatsby’s identity begins when he sees daisy for the first time, he may even secretly realize that he will never be able to have Daisy, thus acknowledging the end and the reasoning for his pale face. Upon Nick opening the door, Gatsby’s “hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets” implying there was an emotional weight pulling him down. This weight could be the connection between the beginning and the end as the weight could be similar to Gatsby being pulled down in the water. After being shot by Wilson, there appeared to be “a thin red circle in the water”(162). This blood is in a circle to demonstrate the continuity between Gatsby’s feelings from the beginning to the end. This weight that Gatsby feels could be his subconscious or faint connection with reality allowing him to understand that things with Daisy will not end in the way he hopes. Overall, the motif of death displays the small grasp on reality that Gatsby …show more content…
Nick opened the door to let in Gatsby, therefore Nick was the one to begin the demise of Gatsby. Gatsby was “standing in a puddle of water” symbolizing renewal and rebirth. This was a new start for Gatsby as he finally had a chance with Daisy. The moment Nick opened the door was the beginning of the end. Water can be used to put out a flame just as the water put out Gatsby’s purpose. Once he again met Daisy, the fulfillment of his lifelong purpose began to come to a conclusion. The water was a fresh start with Daisy, but also the end of Gatsby. The story comes to full circle in the end as after Gatsby had been shot there was a “barely perceptible movement of the water”(162) meaning all hopes had been lost. The tranquility of the water is similar to the tranquility of Gatsby’s dreams. Ironically, Gatsby’s peaceful dreams of being with Daisy are similar to the tranquility following his death. There was only peace when Daisy was a dream when Daisy entered the picture turmoil was created. When first meeting Daisy there was a thunderstorm and water crashing down, implying Daisy was a storm coming in to cause damage to Gatsby’s life. All in all, the motif of water works to display the relationship between Gatsby's reality and dreams with
Through the motif of light, Fitzgerald is signifying a promise of hope and fulfillment. It was a “light” knock at which Daisy entered the room and thus entered …show more content…
When Nick first opens the door, Gatsby is as “pale as death” thus alluding to the beginning of the end for Gatsby. When Daisy sided with Tom in New York, Gatsby looked as “as if he had ‘killed a man’”(134) implying his identity had been killed. The sole purpose of Jay Gatsby was to be with Daisy, after it was clear that Gatsby could not be with her, the entirety of his new identity was destroyed. Without a purpose, there was no Jay Gatsby. The death of Gatsby’s identity begins when he sees daisy for the first time, he may even secretly realize that he will never be able to have Daisy, thus acknowledging the end and the reasoning for his pale face. Upon Nick opening the door, Gatsby’s “hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets” implying there was an emotional weight pulling him down. This weight could be the connection between the beginning and the end as the weight could be similar to Gatsby being pulled down in the water. After being shot by Wilson, there appeared to be “a thin red circle in the water”(162). This blood is in a circle to demonstrate the continuity between Gatsby’s feelings from the beginning to the end. This weight that Gatsby feels could be his subconscious or faint connection with reality allowing him to understand that things with Daisy will not end in the way he hopes. Overall, the motif of death displays the small grasp on reality that Gatsby …show more content…
Nick opened the door to let in Gatsby, therefore Nick was the one to begin the demise of Gatsby. Gatsby was “standing in a puddle of water” symbolizing renewal and rebirth. This was a new start for Gatsby as he finally had a chance with Daisy. The moment Nick opened the door was the beginning of the end. Water can be used to put out a flame just as the water put out Gatsby’s purpose. Once he again met Daisy, the fulfillment of his lifelong purpose began to come to a conclusion. The water was a fresh start with Daisy, but also the end of Gatsby. The story comes to full circle in the end as after Gatsby had been shot there was a “barely perceptible movement of the water”(162) meaning all hopes had been lost. The tranquility of the water is similar to the tranquility of Gatsby’s dreams. Ironically, Gatsby’s peaceful dreams of being with Daisy are similar to the tranquility following his death. There was only peace when Daisy was a dream when Daisy entered the picture turmoil was created. When first meeting Daisy there was a thunderstorm and water crashing down, implying Daisy was a storm coming in to cause damage to Gatsby’s life. All in all, the motif of water works to display the relationship between Gatsby's reality and dreams with