Symbols and Symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby

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Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

Symbolism is able to produce immense emotions. Fitzgerald applies symbolism to three of the most significant characters in "The Great Gatsby" to illustrate incisive sentiments.

Fitzgerald's description of Tom Buchanan's colossal house signifies Tom and his values. The red and white colors of the Buchanan's mansion represent Tom's personality. Red customarily exemplifies impurity and boldness, while white signifies Tom's superior attitude towards other individuals. His "red" disposition is presented by the audacity of his exposed affair with Myrtle and his "white" character is portrayed through his racist comments throughout the book. A Georgian Colonial mansion signifies Tom's racist personality due to the past history of the Southern states prejudices against African-Americans. Fitzgerald's diction of "Colonial" also expresses that Tom is old-money and was raised from a prep-school background, which alludes the reader that he is not a very open-minded character, but relies more heavily upon literary knowledge. The house is distin...

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