symbolism in the great gatsby
The Great Gatsby is rich in symbolism, which is portrayed on several different levels in a variety of ways. One of the most important qualities of symbolism within this novel, is the way in which it is integrated into the plot and structure. Some of the symbols are used mostly as tools for characterization such as Gatsby's huge library of uncut books. Other symbols such as Gatsby's car, symbolizing material wealth in America and its destructfulness. However, the major symbols such as the valley of ashes, the green light, and the east and west, are filled with meanings that go beyond the plot, and truly capture Fitzgerald's theme of this novel; The corruption of the American dream. The corruptive effect of wealth is shown by the conflict between the established rich, represented by the East Eggers, and the newly rich, represented by the West Eggers. West Egg is the home of "new money" those who have made huge fortunes, but lack the traditions associated with inherited wealth and is therefore vulgar. "You live in West Egg," she remarked contemptuously." (Fitzgerald, 11). The East Eggers, represented by the Buchanans
Gatsby is a symbol for the whole American experience. The corruption of his dream, by using materialism as its means and the illusion of youth and beauty as its goal, is the corruption of American idealism, which in turn becomes the empty promise. In the end Gatsby is destroyed by his illusions of Daisy, just as the fresh landscape of America has been converted into a depressing "valley of ashes," and the sacred green light becomes nothing but a green bulb burning at the end of Daisy's dock. st to east attracted by the wealth and a materialistic life, masking the true emptiness of their goal of happiness. Daisy, Tom, Nick, Jordan, and Gatsby all were westerners, and by moving east, they moved from a world of values to a moral vacuum. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Green is the color of promise, of hope, renewal, and ultimately the green light to which Gatsby stretches out his arms. The green light symbolically corresponds to the "green breast of a New World," and at the end fuses Gatsby's vision of Daisy with that of the explorers who had discovered the promise
Some common words found in the essay are:
TJ Ecklburg, I've England, , Jordan Gatsby, World America, East Eggers, West Egg, East Egg, America Gatsby, green light, east west, valley ashes, corruption american, west egg, gatsby's vision, you've doing, created modern, represents god, east eggers,
Approximate Word count = 759
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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