Eyes In The Great Gatsby Essay

1204 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay about eyes in the great gatsby

Eyes are the window to the soul. Eyes are used to see but what happens when one looks through another individual’s eyes? F. Scott Fitzgerald used this idea in The Great Gatsby, Owl Eyes symbolizes an omniscient point of view who is all seeing revealing characterization and a theme. When Fitzgerald first introduces Owl Eyes he is at the party that Gatsby holds. He is in the library fascinated with the books being real and containing actual paper. The significance of him being in this specific setting is he is wise, he is an all knowing figure that Fitzgerald introduces to the audience very early in the book. The owl in his description symbolizes that he is wise and educated. His setting, the library, represents how knowledgeable he is. The eyes …show more content…

Fitzgerald does this by using description of Owl Eyes he specifically used owl as a representation. The author wanted Owl Eyes to represent the role of a guardian angel and an omen of death because it provides meaning in the book. The meaning of having Owl Eyes is to foreshadow unfortunate events that can impact Gatsby. The novel is told by Nick yet is revolved around Gatsby which is why Fitzgerald would want a character like Owl Eyes to be this all knowing forgive that can oversee what is going to happen. To restate, Owl Eyes is present in the scenes which Gatsby needs someone or something and is happening to him. All of this relates back to the theme of death because Owl is a symbol for an omen of death so he would be the only character to be in the scenes which death would occur, which also explain why he is a guardian angel role because death could occur so he needs to be there to help. He plays a double role of death and angel that has significance because it shows the reader when conflict is going to arise. The juxtaposition of his roles adds complexity to Owl Eyes and why he is always there for Gatsby even though he was most likely not invited to Jay’s party. Overall, the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald used Owl Eyes character as a way to convey the theme of death and portray an all knowing

Show More
Related

  • Pain In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    The eyes are said to be the window to the soul, and often give away one’s emotions and feelings in times of discomfort and longing. When Gatsby and Daisy reconnect for the first time in five years, their eyes portray their intense pain as they reminisce on their past and what they used to have. The meeting is intended to be a happy, romantic reunion; however, Gatsby and Daisy end up “looking conscientiously from one to the other with tense, unhappy eyes” (Fitzgerald 87).

    Read More

  • Open Minds In The Great Gatsby

    1780 Words  | 4 Pages

    “One Mississippi…From the snap of the ball to the snap of the first bone is closer to four seconds than to five.” (Michael Lewis-). One commonly agreed upon notion is a world at peace; this can happen when you’re not quick on judging in life and being open-minded. In the poem “Mending Wall,”1914 by Robert Frost, The children’s book The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, and the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, all have in common is that; there are characters in each who are open-minded. An example of this is when in the novel the Great Gatsby, the character Nick was always open-minded, he states this when he said- “in my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in the world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.’” (Fitzgerald 1). This quote really stuck out at me, because

    Read More

  • Essay Comparing The Great Gatsby And Their Eyes Were Watching God

    525 Words  | 2 Pages

    In American society, love, social class, and ambition are in the present life of Americans. Both books "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Hurston, are examples of Gatsby and Janie and their strive to reach the American dream. Both Gatsby and Janie are searching for love. Gatsby has found his love for Daisy, but he can’t have her because of there differences between social classes. On the other hand, Janie spends her journey searching for sense of herself and someone who treats her as equal. Despite the beginning of their past life they both reach the appearance of wealth and fortune. For Gatsby, his character is a delusion created by those who spread rumors just by seeing him throw the lavish parties. Gatsby's wealth is only a front because he was given the house from wealth and illegal dealings with Meyer Wolfsheim. Janie's character changes throughout the story in search of her identity. Janie inherited money from the death of her second husband. But the money doesn’t mean much to her ever since she met Tea Cake but still uses her money to provide for the both of them. Gatsby and Janie faced challenges on the search for their American Dream. In

    Read More

  • What Does The Water Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fitzgerald has an in-depth writing style. He uses symbols through out the text, which highlight key ideas, some are more obvious than others although all are effective. He has added detail to the smallest of things and every component of this text has a meaning. Fitzgerald has used many symbols thought this text some which include a green light, representing what Gatsby dreams of having and what he can’t reach, the Valley of Ashes, where people like George and Myrtle Wilson live - people who are not very wealthy - . the eyes of T.J Eckleburg, who is represented very alike to God who is known to see everything that happens, the clock, which is knocked over by Gatsby symbolising that Gatsby and Daisy have caught up in time and the weather which symbolises the atmosphere between

    Read More

  • Eyes In The Great Gatsby Analysis

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    Eckleburg, the use of eyes pertaining to Owl Eyes is used in the same context. Owl Eyes is a symbol of eyes in that his huge eyes and glasses see that the books in Gatsby’s library are real, “It 's a bona-fide piece of printed matter. It fooled me. This fella 's a regular Belasco. It 's a triumph. What thoroughness! What realism!” (Fitzgerald 45-46). This may seem pointless, but what the books truly symbolize are Gatsby’s true self. “ This minor character illuminates the character of Jay Gatsby. He finds that the books in Gatsby 's library are real, even though the pages were uncut. Like the books, Gatsby is the real thing, but unformed, unlettered, and for all his financial cunning, ignorant.Furthermore, the ocular imagery in the book is enhanced by this character 's role since various acquaintances of the mysterious Gatsby lend their truth to his real story” (Telgen). Owl Eyes is a very minor character, who plays a hidden role, but he is one of the only characters who is able to see Gatsby all the way

    Read More

  • the great gatsby

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel based on Gatsby’s dream and hope. In order to enrich the story, symbols are used to emphasize what the author is saying and they create a curiosity in the reader as they are frequently used throughout the story. These three symbols – green light, valley of ashes and the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg are not connected to each other but each of them represents important things in the story.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Tunnel Vision Essay

    1499 Words  | 3 Pages

    The American Dream is only achievable based on your motivation to succeed, your process in which you achieve your dream can be more important than your actual dream. Sometimes it's the journey that makes or breaks you and not the destination.  The Great Gatsby, written by Fitzgerald, is based off the idea of the American Dream, and whether it's achievable to all Americans. Many seem to have their own opinions and thoughts on the idea of the American Dream. The idea of the American Dream is sought after by just about anyone. This topic is often mentioned during times of sorrow and death ,as well as through many platforms such as poems, speeches, novels, and essays. Gatsby

    Read More

  • Differences Between The Great Gatsby Movie Vs Movie

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many key details from the novel have been left out of the movie. For example, the owl-eyed man, an important symbol in the novel, does not make an appearance in the movie; Nick is supposed to meet him in the library at Gatsby’s party, but never encounters him. By leaving out the owl-eyed man, the viewers fail to grasp just

    Read More

  • Great Gatsby

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour” (24). The symbol is important to the story because it shows that no matter how fabulous a place looks there is always a dark side. Another symbol in The Great Gatsby is the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg which symbolizes the eyes of God staring down in distaste of the corrupt city and how God has lost his connection with that city. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are described as this, “The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic-their retinas are one yard high” (23). F. Scott Fitzgerald mentions the eyes again soon after, “I followed him over a low whitewashed railroad fence, and we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Doctor Eckleburg’s persistent stare” (24). This symbol is important to the story because it shows that the flashy cities were not approved of.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Ethical Analysis

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are perhaps the most important symbol in The Great Gatsby. The eyes can be taken as the eyes of God or even as us, the observers. We are observing the characters in what they do and analyzing them as an example of what is wrong or what is right. In this case, we are observing Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. We are observing their conducts and deciphering whether their actions are wrong or right.

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby: Gatsbys Illusion Of Himself

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    to him, something for which he can strive, so he puts all of his energy into

    Read More

  • Recurring Themes in The Great Gatsby and Their Eyes Were Watching God

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    The recurring themes of society, class, and self identity can be seen throughout many different writings of the 20th century. Two of these writings include, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston. Both novels focus on the protagonist's goal of achieving equal rights in their own environment while at the same time trying to figure out who they are in the world. In the early 1900s, when “Their Eyes Were Watching God” takes place, slavery had very recently been abolished (relatively speaking) and the lasting effects of segregation take a toll on Janie, the protagonist. In the Great Gatsby, although Jay Gatsby is white, and thus does not have to deal with the factor of race, he struggles with many different aspects of American Society, mainly the class system and the American Dream. The American dream depicted by F.Scott Fitzgerald is a desire to gain wealth and prosperity. However, at the same time the book does not suggest that wealth equates to success. Even though Gatsby does have material wealth, he is not successful in gaining what he wants to be happy. Despite his material wealth, Gatsby is never united with the love of his life, Daisy. This shows that even though Gatsby has achieved the dream of wealth and prosperity, he has not achieved his final goal. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie too believes in the American Dream, and similarly to Gatsby, it is not a dream of wealth and prosperity. For her, it’s a dream of Freedom in all aspects of life. Both characters however, spend much of their time trying to conform to the rest of the world and essentially be like “everyone” else instead of trying to be distinct individuals. Societal norms of the early 1900s tak...

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby and The Hollow Men

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ed to be in charge of the conversation. Also, Owl Eyes was one of the few honorable people who attended Gatsby's funeral. He had an admiration toward Gatsby and cherished his view toward life.

    Read More

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

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    Symbolism in The Great Gatsby Symbolism is what makes a story complete. In "The Great Gatsby" Fitzgerald cleverly uses symbolism. Virtually anything in the novel can be taken as a symbol, from the weather, to the colors of clothing. characters wear. There are three main symbols used in The Great Gatsby, they are The East and West Egg, the green light at the end of Daisy's dock, and the eyes of Dr.T.J. Eckleburg.

    Read More

  • Differences Between The Great Gatsby And Daisy Buchanan

    513 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although in the novel the reader has to decipher and figure out the importance of these symbols, in the movie these symbols are enhanced and are shown more clearly to the viewer. They show Gatsby out on the dock reaching for the green light. When Gatsby is close to finally reaching his dream the light is shown brighter. Then, later on in the movie, they show light flicker and slowly go out after Gatsby’s death, showing how he had failed to gain the one thing he desired most, Daisy. Another example is the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleberg, the movie makes it more apparent that they represent the eyes of God looking over the corruption and loss of morality in the Valley of Ashes. While reading the book is more in depth, the movie can help the reader to further understand the meanings of these

    Read More

More about Eyes In The Great Gatsby Essay

Open Document