Emory Johnson
Dec.2, 2015
4th Period
Dr. Rice
Symbolism in the Great Gatsby
It seems Fitzgerald likes to hide secret meanings behind his work. Zelda finally agreed to marry him, but her overpowering desire for wealth, fun, and leisure led her to delay their wedding until he could prove a success. The background of the author is the entire basis of the entire book itself. Fitzgerald had many ways of displaying symbolism throughout the story by the way he uses Colors, how the eyes of T.J Eckleburg watch over the Valley of Ashes, and the depiction of the Corrupted American Dream. Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby purposely has motifs to demonstrate symbolism throughout the story. In the Great Gatsby every character has unique thoughts and actions …show more content…
The colors could represent emotion like, rage, sadness or greed. The most prominent color in the story is the green light that to Gatsby meant hope for the future. Nick says the “fresh, green breast of the new world”, (Fitzgerald, F p182) meaning how the world is new and free. This shows that this green color isn’t just a symbol for the future but for life and freedom. “The green light of the orgastic future (Hauhart, R p152) that we stretch our hands towards”. The green light symbolizes the future and a new beginning. Green is not the only color used to represent a person’s traits, white is most commonly used to describe someone as being innocent. Daisy always is dressed in the color of white and has been described “white neck”, “white girlhood,” the king's daughter (Will, Barbara p99) “high in a white palace” (Layng, G p99). With her neutral character she doesn’t have many …show more content…
Unlike colors the American Dream is much more explained and more defined. The American Dream is the reality that you can be poor, have a different ethnicity, a different social class, or your come from bad fortune but with enough work and dedication you can be wealthy and live up to your expectations. The book showed what happened to the American dream in the 1920’s and dreams became corrupted. The corruption comes with the desire for the perfect life. “Blinded by his desire to have the American Dream, which ultimately leads to his death” (Hays, P). Gatsby got very close to successfully completing the Dream by having Daisy by him and pursuing a life in peace. With so much work you can still come up short off your goals. “If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay,” said Gatsby. (Fitzgerald, F p88) “You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.” Daisy put her arm through his abruptly, but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said. Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. This quote states that through all his trouble trying to once again be with Daisy has now ended because he finally believes he has completed his dream. The characters in the story all have their own individual dreams and things to keep them happy but for some reason their Dream is corrupted. Tom Buchanan's American Dream was
Dec.2, 2015
4th Period
Dr. Rice
Symbolism in the Great Gatsby
It seems Fitzgerald likes to hide secret meanings behind his work. Zelda finally agreed to marry him, but her overpowering desire for wealth, fun, and leisure led her to delay their wedding until he could prove a success. The background of the author is the entire basis of the entire book itself. Fitzgerald had many ways of displaying symbolism throughout the story by the way he uses Colors, how the eyes of T.J Eckleburg watch over the Valley of Ashes, and the depiction of the Corrupted American Dream. Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby purposely has motifs to demonstrate symbolism throughout the story. In the Great Gatsby every character has unique thoughts and actions …show more content…
The colors could represent emotion like, rage, sadness or greed. The most prominent color in the story is the green light that to Gatsby meant hope for the future. Nick says the “fresh, green breast of the new world”, (Fitzgerald, F p182) meaning how the world is new and free. This shows that this green color isn’t just a symbol for the future but for life and freedom. “The green light of the orgastic future (Hauhart, R p152) that we stretch our hands towards”. The green light symbolizes the future and a new beginning. Green is not the only color used to represent a person’s traits, white is most commonly used to describe someone as being innocent. Daisy always is dressed in the color of white and has been described “white neck”, “white girlhood,” the king's daughter (Will, Barbara p99) “high in a white palace” (Layng, G p99). With her neutral character she doesn’t have many …show more content…
Unlike colors the American Dream is much more explained and more defined. The American Dream is the reality that you can be poor, have a different ethnicity, a different social class, or your come from bad fortune but with enough work and dedication you can be wealthy and live up to your expectations. The book showed what happened to the American dream in the 1920’s and dreams became corrupted. The corruption comes with the desire for the perfect life. “Blinded by his desire to have the American Dream, which ultimately leads to his death” (Hays, P). Gatsby got very close to successfully completing the Dream by having Daisy by him and pursuing a life in peace. With so much work you can still come up short off your goals. “If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay,” said Gatsby. (Fitzgerald, F p88) “You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock.” Daisy put her arm through his abruptly, but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said. Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. This quote states that through all his trouble trying to once again be with Daisy has now ended because he finally believes he has completed his dream. The characters in the story all have their own individual dreams and things to keep them happy but for some reason their Dream is corrupted. Tom Buchanan's American Dream was