The Great Gatsby

A detailed Summary of The Great Gatsby


In the classic novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses a great amount of concrete symbolism to add depth to the story. There are four different areas where the story takes place: East Egg, West Egg, New York City, and the valley of ashes. The different houses located in each area represent the various lives of the people who live there.

Tom and Daisy Buchanan live in East Egg in "a cheerful red and white Georgian Colonial mansion overlooking the bay."(11) Their house symbolizes their stable wealth and boring lives. East Egg is nicknamed "Old Money" because it is where the older generation lives in spacious and secluded west homes. The people who live there have had their money for many years and know how to spend it wisely.

Nick Carraway lives in West Egg, "the less fashionable of the two"(9). It is nicknamed "New Money" because it is where the younger generation lives. West Egg is more laid back and is closer connected to reality. It is full of romance as well as dispute and deceitfulness. Tom describes his house as "an eye sore that [has] been overlooked."(9-10) This describes his personality because throughout the book, Nick is mainly a spectator of the action. He is rarely found in the


action and is always overlooked. His wealthy neighbor, Jay Gatsby, lives in an enormous mansion that "[is] a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy."(9) Gatsby's mansion represents how he is not happy only being wealthy. His house also symbolizes how careless he is with money. Gatsby uses his beautiful house to cover up his real sad and corrupted life. There is something or someone missing in Gatsby's life, but he hides his sadness behind his wealth and success. In addition, the statement that his house is an imitation symbolizes that it is not real and original just like Gatsby's life. Gatsby makes up lies and creates an imaginary life, which everyone believes to be true. Tom and Myrtle own an apartment in New York City. It represents reality in the story. It shows how dishonest their lives are behind the illusion of wealth and happiness.

Above the garage is a billboard with an old dim advertisement for Doctor T.J. Eckleburg's ocular practice. "The eyes of T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic and look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose."(27) Throughout the book, George refers to the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg as the "eyes of God". God sees through the illusion of the "American Dream

Some common words found in the essay are:
TJ Eckleburg, American Dream, Normandy9 Gatsby's, West Egg, George Wilson, Egg York, Tom Myrtle, York City, East Egg, Georgian Colonial, tj eckleburg, valley ashes, west egg, east egg, eyes tj eckleburg, eyes tj, west egg york, york city, people live, wealth happiness, gatsby's life, throughout book, nicknamed money generation, lives west egg, money generation lives,

Approximate Word count = 862
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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