The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a tragic love story about a very wealthy man named Jay Gatsby who is in love with Daisy Buchanan, who is married to Tom Buchanan. The novel takes the reader back to America, New York specifically, in the 1920’s. During this time, New York was divided based on social class. In West Egg (where Gatsby lives), the people were wealthy but they were self made. On the other hand, in East Egg (where Tom and Daisy lives), the people were extremely wealthy and were born into whatever money they had. In the story, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses literary elements such as symbolism and imagery to enhance the plot.
First, Fitzgerald uses imagery to depict the struggles of two characters impoverished lives in Queens, New …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism in another way. In the story the author uses a green light at the end of Daisy’s dock to symbolize Jay Gatsby’s struggle to come up from poverty. To Gatsby, that green light signifies Daisy and what he has to do to get to her. Gatsby grew up poor and in poverty. Later on Gatsby met a man named Dan Cody who was filthy rich and helped Gatsby. Dan Cody “took him to Duluth and bought him a blue coat, six pairs of white duck trousers, and a yachting cap” (Fitzgerald 100). When Dan Cody died, Gatsby was left dirt poor again, however he could fake being rich because of how much Dan Cody taught him. Later, Gatsby met Daisy and fell in love with her. When she found out he was not rich she said that they could not be together. Gatsby used that as his motivation to accomplish what he needed to to get to Daisy. He got enough money and moved across the bay where he could see the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. Seeing that green light everyday, to Gatsby, was Daisy being so close yet so far. Gatsby did everything he could to get to where he is now, all for Daisy. When he finally gets her to his house, the green light lost its meaning to him. He got Daisy where he wanted her. But now, everything to him is gloomy again because he is starting to realize that Daisy is not the same person she was anymore, that she has a husband and a child, and she will not and cannot leave her
First, Fitzgerald uses imagery to depict the struggles of two characters impoverished lives in Queens, New …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism in another way. In the story the author uses a green light at the end of Daisy’s dock to symbolize Jay Gatsby’s struggle to come up from poverty. To Gatsby, that green light signifies Daisy and what he has to do to get to her. Gatsby grew up poor and in poverty. Later on Gatsby met a man named Dan Cody who was filthy rich and helped Gatsby. Dan Cody “took him to Duluth and bought him a blue coat, six pairs of white duck trousers, and a yachting cap” (Fitzgerald 100). When Dan Cody died, Gatsby was left dirt poor again, however he could fake being rich because of how much Dan Cody taught him. Later, Gatsby met Daisy and fell in love with her. When she found out he was not rich she said that they could not be together. Gatsby used that as his motivation to accomplish what he needed to to get to Daisy. He got enough money and moved across the bay where he could see the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. Seeing that green light everyday, to Gatsby, was Daisy being so close yet so far. Gatsby did everything he could to get to where he is now, all for Daisy. When he finally gets her to his house, the green light lost its meaning to him. He got Daisy where he wanted her. But now, everything to him is gloomy again because he is starting to realize that Daisy is not the same person she was anymore, that she has a husband and a child, and she will not and cannot leave her