Gatsby

The Great Gatsby includes many symbols and symbolism is evident throughout the novel. Fitzgerald uses symbolism to show one of the novel’s central themes. The symbolism is affected by the themes of the book along with the time Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. The Roaring Twenties, The American Dream, Class (Old Money, New Money) and Past and Future all include symbolism in some way. How he uses it varies from colors, to old billboards but they all have some meaning with him, or the time he was living in.

In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald portrays three different social classes. The old money is represented by Tom and Daisy Buchanan. The old money families have had their wealth passed down and have built up powerful and influential connections. They usually try to hide their wealth. The new money is Jay Gatsby. The new money classes have made their fortunes with their hard work and determination. This class is a result of the 1920’s boom and because of this have very few to none connection. Because of this they tend to make up for this with over-the-top ways to show off their wealth. For example Gatsby’s house is a physical symbol of Gatsby's love for Daisy. Gatsby used his new money to make a place that he matched the houses of the old money that Daisy lives in. Through this action, it shows the developing rivalry between the old and new money in the struggle between Gatsby and Tom over Daisy. Gatsby's mansion can symbolize two themes of the novel. Gatsby’s house can also represent the greatness and emptiness of the 1920s. Gatsby lives in his house all alone and then fills his house weekly with parties. Also the no money class is represented by George and Myrtle Wilson. This class gets overlooked by the struggle at the top. This l...

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...preserves." However Gatsby mixes up "youth and mystery" with history; he believes a single month of love with Daisy can compete with the years she has shared with Tom. While the new money is money without connections, Gatsby's connection to Daisy exists outside of history. While Gatsby is haunted by the past, Nick feels the weight of the future. Nick's fear of the future foreshadows the economic depression that took over the country and ended the Roaring Twenties. When Gatsby and Tom argue at the Plaza Hotel, Nick realizes that it's his thirtieth birthday. He thinks of the new decade before him as a "portentous menacing road.” He clearly sees the struggle between old and new money, the end of an era and the destruction of both types of wealth.

Works Cited

LitCharts Editors. "LitChart on The Great Gatsby." LitCharts.com. LitCharts LLC. 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.