Free Essays brought to you by 123HelpMe.com



Metaphors and Symbolisms in The Great Gatsby

 

In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses many different

metaphors and symbolisms to express his point.  In this essay the point that

I wish to make is how Fitzgerald uses colors to develop image, feelings, and

scenery depiction to let the reader feel the emotions and other aspects being

portrayed in that particular part in the book.    Like every other essay one

must address the major points that will be addressed.    This essay suggests

the hopefulness of Nick's venture in the East and of Gatsby's dream to win

Daisy.  Fitzgerald uses the colors of white and green as suggestions of

future promise.  As the novel unfolds and the uselessness of the dream is

developed, the colors become garish shades such as gold, silver, and pink.

 

    White and green are shown throughout the beginning of the novel, first,

through green and white luminous light.  Daisy is constantly shown in white.

When Nick first sees his cousin (Daisy), she is wearing a white dress.  In my

mind, white depicts virginity, innocence, honesty, wealth, and the appearance

of cleanliness.  Later on I will discuss how this image of Daisy is false.

She is extremely corrupt, and all her actions are based on self-gratitude.

Green is also portrayed in the earlier parts of this novel.  It is a symbol

of hope.  This probably is referring to Gatsby's second chance at romance

with Daisy, and his dream with America being able to make all your dreams

come true.  Gatsby believes that there is hope for his future relationship

with Daisy.  We view his romantic adventure with Daisy in an accepting

manner, even though she is a married woman.  The bright lights don't last for

long, as we begin to see what is truly important to our characters and gold

and silver start to kick in.

 

The next colors that I will address are silver and gold.  Gold is portrayed

in many different places in this novel.   Earlier, in Gatsby's life, he was

deeply in love with a young woman named Daisy.  She had been his life's

aspiration, and he had always one day dreamed of being with her once more.

She didn't stay with Gatsby in that earlier part of their lives because he

wasn't wealthy, and couldn't completely pamper her every need.  As he

matured, he understood that because of her upbringing as the town "southern

bell", and being very spoiled, to win her heart, he must too become a man of

great wealth.  This is where the depiction of gold starts to take place.

Gatsby wishes to lure Daisy back to him, using the appeal of his wealth and

power as a tool.  A daisy flower, if you think about it closely, has a yellow

or golden center. All Daisy's life she has required a certain attending to.

Gold is a symbol of wealth.  This is a re-occurring image that is seen

throughout Gatsby's parties and vulgar displays of prosperity.  Many of the

extravagant parties that Gatsby had to lure Daisy to his house, take place in

West Egg.  West Egg, as well as East Egg, although appear to be the home of

great and honorable men and women; they are places of utter corruption.  An

egg is white and pure on the outside, but the center is yellow, or golden

(corrupt) on the inside.  This applies to everyone living in East and West

Egg, but mostly Gatsby and Daisy.  Daisy is portrayed, on several occasions,

wearing all white.  The reality of all this is, her true sole is very selfish

and full of corruption.  Silver is also a sign of wealth and corruption.  We

see that all of Gatsby's efforts toward impressing Daisy through his money

changes slightly.  Wealth is still the major focus here, but no as much as it

was before when discussing gold.  Gatsby's car is described as being swollen

with silver, as if to say that it was done in a bad way.

 

    The last color portrayed heavily when discussing the character of Gatsby

is pink.  Pink is a sign of embarrassment.  When Gatsby states that Daisy

never loved Tom, she has always been in love with him, he was shocked to hear

from her own mouth that she loved both of them.  This placed Gatsby in a very

uncomfortable situation and  this event finally brought him over the edge.

 

    Over the course of this novel we saw how the plot slowly changes from the

rich and exquisite life of the wealthy, to the stubborn, arrogant, and

selfish values that each of these characters possessed, especially Gatsby.

Corruption reigned so high in their society; it was viewed as something to be

of usual nature.

 

Partner sites: Dog Information, and Free Essays and Term Papers