What Does The Man Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald, the auther of The Great Gatsby, uses symbolism quite often throughout the novel. Gatsby's car and his clothes are symbolized to show his wealth. Nick's small and modest house right next to Gatsby's mansion symbolizes how Nick is different than most of the other characters with his morals. There are two major cases of symbolism that tie into the theme of the novel the most. The owl-eyed man symbolizes a friend, and the oculist sign symbolizes God or someone always watching, and they both tie into the theme of you are never truly alone. The owl-eyed man was a character who was present three times during the novel. He first showed up at one of Gatsby's parties. He was in the library, drunk, and was looking at Gatsby's books. He was astonished that the books were real, "Absolutely real-have pages and everything" (50.) The owl-eyed man showed up again at the end of the party. The car he was riding in was in the ditch and was somehow missing a …show more content…
The sign was a billboard advertising Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, an eye doctor. The billboard was just a picture of two very huge eyes. The sign is right by the Wilsons's gas station that they lived above. The oculist sign was a witness to Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson's affair. The eyes were watching whenever they got onto the train together or drove past. The sign was peering down at Tom when he stopped in for gas on the way to New York City and Mr. Wilson told him that he thought his wife was having an affair. The eyes watched as Daisy ran over Mrytle. The occultist sign symbolizes God, a greater presence, or someone that is always observing. Mr. Wilson came to the conclusion through his grief stricken haze that the sign was actually God. He was looking at the sign and said "God sees everything" (167). Mr. Wilson was a little off by thinking that the sign was actually God in the flesh, but the sign can symbolize