The symbols signify an idea, theme or a character, and these symbols are messages that are analyzed to discover so the reader could understand the meaning beyond what is actually being described. Authors often use an object and reference to add richness, color and deeper meaning to a story.
The use of symbols in The Great Gatsby provide the general understanding of the corruption of American Dream in 1920s led by moral and spiritual decay. Symbols portray people who struggled with accomplishing their dream. Jay Gatsby, whose dream is to recapture the past he had lived with Daisy, sacrifices his life to achieve the dream, believing everything he has done would bring to get Daisy. He however dies in the end, revealing his dream has been failed …show more content…
By the beginning of the novel, Gatsby stares “a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock”(21). Gatsby tries to stretch out his arms toward a seemingly unattainable green light. It represents the physical and emotional distance between Gatsby and Daisy. Fitzgerald uses green light at the end of Daisy’s dock as the symbol of Gatsby’s longing desire and ultimate aspiration, which is to attain Daisy. Even though Daisy is married Tom, Gatsby believes that he will be able to live life with her as they lived together five years ago. Therefore, the green light is associated with the American Dream that Gatsby cannot gain. When once Gatsby has finally met with Daisy with help of Nick and Jordan, and Daisy also begins to take interest in Gatsby, Gatsby tells Daisy “If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across”(92). The green light obscured by a fog foreshadows the end of the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby, as well as Gatsby’s dream. Moreover, “the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever”(93) as he feels he “seemed very near to her, almost touching her”(93). At the point that Gatsby has almost reunited with Daisy which is his dream over five years, the significance of the light has vanished and it suggests Gatsby to realize that he need to face the reality, rather than the ideal he created for Daisy. However, the green light will keep …show more content…
Weather corresponds the emotional and narrative tone in the novel. The day Tom and Gatsby confront each other is “broiling, almost the last, certainly warmest, of the summer” (114). The weather is “broiling” heat and gives a feeling of uneasiness. In Great Gatsby heat plays role in foreshadowing the climax and symbolizing the coming conflict, and the heat gets intense toward the end of the novel. When Nick has his encounter with Wilson at Wilson’s garage, “the relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse”(124) Nick. Heat depicts the mix and confusion of emotions among all characters and the description of the heat becomes stronger as the seriousness of coming conflict becomes stronger. These description enhance foreshadowing of the confrontation between Gatsby and Tom as well as the end of the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy, which reveals the end of Gatsby’s dream. At the hotel where “muffled and suffocating chords were drifting up on hot waves of air”(132), Nick is affected physically so “intermittent beads of sweat raced cool across [Nick’s] back”(126). Rising tension and intensity among characters creates uncomfortable mood and gives the feeling of nervousness, anxiety and discomfort. Heat becomes oppressive as tension between them gets intense, and heat reaches the highest point, when Tom and Gatsby heatedly battling over Daisy. Gatsby “lost” battle over Daisy by Tom exposing how he
The use of symbols in The Great Gatsby provide the general understanding of the corruption of American Dream in 1920s led by moral and spiritual decay. Symbols portray people who struggled with accomplishing their dream. Jay Gatsby, whose dream is to recapture the past he had lived with Daisy, sacrifices his life to achieve the dream, believing everything he has done would bring to get Daisy. He however dies in the end, revealing his dream has been failed …show more content…
By the beginning of the novel, Gatsby stares “a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock”(21). Gatsby tries to stretch out his arms toward a seemingly unattainable green light. It represents the physical and emotional distance between Gatsby and Daisy. Fitzgerald uses green light at the end of Daisy’s dock as the symbol of Gatsby’s longing desire and ultimate aspiration, which is to attain Daisy. Even though Daisy is married Tom, Gatsby believes that he will be able to live life with her as they lived together five years ago. Therefore, the green light is associated with the American Dream that Gatsby cannot gain. When once Gatsby has finally met with Daisy with help of Nick and Jordan, and Daisy also begins to take interest in Gatsby, Gatsby tells Daisy “If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across”(92). The green light obscured by a fog foreshadows the end of the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby, as well as Gatsby’s dream. Moreover, “the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever”(93) as he feels he “seemed very near to her, almost touching her”(93). At the point that Gatsby has almost reunited with Daisy which is his dream over five years, the significance of the light has vanished and it suggests Gatsby to realize that he need to face the reality, rather than the ideal he created for Daisy. However, the green light will keep …show more content…
Weather corresponds the emotional and narrative tone in the novel. The day Tom and Gatsby confront each other is “broiling, almost the last, certainly warmest, of the summer” (114). The weather is “broiling” heat and gives a feeling of uneasiness. In Great Gatsby heat plays role in foreshadowing the climax and symbolizing the coming conflict, and the heat gets intense toward the end of the novel. When Nick has his encounter with Wilson at Wilson’s garage, “the relentless beating heat was beginning to confuse”(124) Nick. Heat depicts the mix and confusion of emotions among all characters and the description of the heat becomes stronger as the seriousness of coming conflict becomes stronger. These description enhance foreshadowing of the confrontation between Gatsby and Tom as well as the end of the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy, which reveals the end of Gatsby’s dream. At the hotel where “muffled and suffocating chords were drifting up on hot waves of air”(132), Nick is affected physically so “intermittent beads of sweat raced cool across [Nick’s] back”(126). Rising tension and intensity among characters creates uncomfortable mood and gives the feeling of nervousness, anxiety and discomfort. Heat becomes oppressive as tension between them gets intense, and heat reaches the highest point, when Tom and Gatsby heatedly battling over Daisy. Gatsby “lost” battle over Daisy by Tom exposing how he