What Does Water Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

In the novel The Great Gatsby, the story revolves around one man and his hope for his love to share his feelings. All throughout the book, water is present in a multitude of forms. Water, in this case, is describing bodies of water, rain, drinks, etc. When taking a look at when and where water is used, it is clear that water symbolizes both the rebirth and renewal of Jay Gatsby. Jay Gatsby was born James Gatz, a poor man from the midwest. He was uncontent with his life and was driven by his unrelenting hope, a hope to become something better and will eventually lead to his obsession with his relationship with Daisy. “James Gatz – that was really, or at least legally, his name. He had changed it at the age of seventeen and at the specific moment that witnessed the beginning of his career – when he saw Dan Cody's yacht”. One day during a storm, he happened to see a yacht owned by Dan Cody which was in peril. James set out on his raft and guided the yacht to safety and saved Dan Cody. Dan Cody happened to be a very rich man who was eternally grateful. Dan Cody than set sail with James and showed him a glamorous life full of parties and sophistication. During this time on the water, sailing around the world, James Gatz died and was reborn into the high-end, wealthy and extravagant person named Jay Gatsby. …show more content…
He throws extravagant parties and amassed a great fortune to woe her. He ends up moving across the bay from her and is able to look at her house every day. He finally works up the gall to meet her again and asks Nick to invite her to a tea party. “He hadn't once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in his house according to the measure of response it drew from her well-loved eyes”. The day of the meeting they rekindle their love for one another amidst a rainfall. Their relationship was brought together by water, and everywhere you look it was inhabited by