The roaring twenties were a time of disillusionment that produced beautiful and historical works of art and literature, including the wondrous novel, The Great Gatsby, which is still read and analyzed in high schools across the country. The novel, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is set after the Great War, displaying a fictional plot of the rich and wealthy in Long Island. It is narrated by the character Nick Carraway, who tells the lives of multiple characters, the most notable being the mysterious and charismatic Jay Gatsby. In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald brings the glitz and glamour of Long Island in the roaring twenties to life, using multiple literary devices, such as symbolism and imagery. The use of symbolism, imagery, and other literary
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In the novel, there is a green light that is mentioned recurringly. This light illuminates from the docks across the bay from West Egg, from the house from Daisy, the woman Gatsby has been stricken by love with since he met her. In the first chapter of the book, the narrator describes Gatsby’s strange figure, stating “he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way… I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of the dock” (Fitzgerald 25-26). This quote perfectly illustrates Gatsby’s undying love for Daisy by using the symbol of the green light. He had his arms stretched out towards the dock, as if he were reaching towards his dreams, in hopes that he can repeat the past. As the reader would find out, Gatsby and Daisy had known each other before, and that they were in love, that is, before they were separated due to circumstances. This quote helps us understand Gatsby’s character a little better, and knowing Gatsby’s honest past, the past that he didn’t make up, helps us understand why he is reaching towards that green light. To him, that green light is his dreams, his future happiness, and a way of recollecting memories of Daisy from the past. Even though Nick tries to …show more content…
Not only does this color represent current wealth, but it also represents the past wealth, as a family’s past financial status was important in the society, with differences between Old Money and New Money. Gatsby carefully crafted a story that made other people respect him. One of the important objects symbolized by gold/yellow in Fitzgerald’s work is Gatsby’s car. In chapter 3, Fitzgerald writes “On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city” (Fitzgerald 43). The Rolls Royce described is a yellow color, showing the wealth and success of Gatsby in the current time. It shows his fulfillment of part of the American Dream: owning a big house and a fancy car. In addition to his financial success, his social success is also described in this quote, with multiple people riding the Rolls Royce to and from his house to enjoy time at the parties he hosts every weekend. Though it was explained how barely anybody knew him personally, people knew of him and how he had a high social status as a successful and social individual. The car is a perfect representation of the success of Gatsby and a closer fulfillment to his personal version of the American Dream. To fully understand this quote, it is important to understand Gatsby’s past, at least the past he lets people know. He tells people that he came from a rich family but had lost all of his
In the novel, there is a green light that is mentioned recurringly. This light illuminates from the docks across the bay from West Egg, from the house from Daisy, the woman Gatsby has been stricken by love with since he met her. In the first chapter of the book, the narrator describes Gatsby’s strange figure, stating “he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way… I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of the dock” (Fitzgerald 25-26). This quote perfectly illustrates Gatsby’s undying love for Daisy by using the symbol of the green light. He had his arms stretched out towards the dock, as if he were reaching towards his dreams, in hopes that he can repeat the past. As the reader would find out, Gatsby and Daisy had known each other before, and that they were in love, that is, before they were separated due to circumstances. This quote helps us understand Gatsby’s character a little better, and knowing Gatsby’s honest past, the past that he didn’t make up, helps us understand why he is reaching towards that green light. To him, that green light is his dreams, his future happiness, and a way of recollecting memories of Daisy from the past. Even though Nick tries to …show more content…
Not only does this color represent current wealth, but it also represents the past wealth, as a family’s past financial status was important in the society, with differences between Old Money and New Money. Gatsby carefully crafted a story that made other people respect him. One of the important objects symbolized by gold/yellow in Fitzgerald’s work is Gatsby’s car. In chapter 3, Fitzgerald writes “On week-ends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city” (Fitzgerald 43). The Rolls Royce described is a yellow color, showing the wealth and success of Gatsby in the current time. It shows his fulfillment of part of the American Dream: owning a big house and a fancy car. In addition to his financial success, his social success is also described in this quote, with multiple people riding the Rolls Royce to and from his house to enjoy time at the parties he hosts every weekend. Though it was explained how barely anybody knew him personally, people knew of him and how he had a high social status as a successful and social individual. The car is a perfect representation of the success of Gatsby and a closer fulfillment to his personal version of the American Dream. To fully understand this quote, it is important to understand Gatsby’s past, at least the past he lets people know. He tells people that he came from a rich family but had lost all of his