The Use of Symbolism in The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby is about a man named Gatsby and his struggle to attain the American Dream in 1920's Long Island. He fights to get his dream woman and to do so, he must first become rich. Unfortunately, he doesn't really go about it the right way; he takes part in some illegal activities with some quite sinister characters, such as Meyer Wolfshiem. The corruption of Gatsby's dream and his struggle to attain his dream are shown by F. Scott Fitzgerald through the use of symbolism, such as Gatsby's car, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, and Gatsby stretching his arms out towards the green light across the bay. Gatsby has a car that is an important symbol in this novel. Ga
-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns"(Fitzgerald 68). This symbolizes the irresponsibility of society and the differences between the old rich and the classlessness of the new rich. This is also the car that Gatsby buys to impress Daisy and that hits Myrtle Wilson, eventually leading to Gatsby's death. Another symbol in this book is the large billboard with the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg on it: Above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg. The[y]K are blue and gigantic- their retinas are one yard high. They look from no face but, instead from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a nonexistent nose (Fitzgera
All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009
Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA Webmasters make $$$$