Symbolism and Social Commentary in The Great Gatsby

Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

Symbols

The Green Light

• Symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams.
• Represents everything that haunts and beckons Gatsby: the physical and emotional distance between him and what he desires.

The Eyes of T.J. Eckleburg

• Symbolize the haunting waste of the past, which lingers though it is irretrievably vanished, much like Eckleburg's medical practice.
• Can also be linked to Gatsby, whose own eyes, once described as "vacant," often stare out blankly, keeping "vigil" over Long Island Sound and the green light.

The Valley of Ashes

• Depicts the stark contrast between the laborers (lower class) and the rich (upper class).
• Shows the consequences of being left behind.

East and West

• Both morally corrupt.
• East: Old money, rooted in tradition.
• West: New money, ostentatious, characterized by those who "worked for their fortune."

Gatsby's Mansion

• Represents the American Dream: grand on the outside, empty on the inside (lacking family and love).

Gatsby

• Gatsby may appear wealthy and live a glamorous life, but he is caught up in the excesses of the Roaring Twenties, risking the loss of everything.
• What does the green light symbolize for Gatsby? The green light represents what he lacks and desires—intangible things like hopes and dreams, not material possessions.

Metaphors

The Dog (Chapter 2)

• The dog represents Myrtle (or any possession).
• Tom (old money) flaunts his wealth carelessly, disregarding the feelings of those he "possesses."

Tom Buchanan

• What does Tom slapping Myrtle reveal about him and his representation of "Old Money?" It reveals his arrogance, entitlement, and disregard for those he deems beneath him.

Gatsby's Depression and the Modern World

• After the party, Gatsby is depressed, suspecting Daisy didn't enjoy it or understand his feelings. Nick reminds him the past is irrecoverable, but Gatsby disagrees, believing he can recreate it.
• What does this say about the nature of the modern world? People dwell on what could have been, undermining their future. They try to repeat past joys instead of living in the present.