The Great Catastrophe Hunter R. Galindo English 11 Honors Period 5 November 17, 2013 Mrs.

Pastore

F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby is filled with recurring motifs and symbols; and it is these symbols that tell the tale of what is lying beneath the surface of the text. In typical cases, symbols and motifs only make simple connections and ties to the novel, and though its these connections that give the reader the ah-ha moment, the symbols of this book, in itself, could be a whole separate novel. The motifs and symbols are not only plentiful, but powerful as well; the majority of them have dual meanings that are crucial to not be overlooked or misinterpreted. Theres no doubt the symbols in this book are essential to the storyline; some of them became so infamous, that theyre now apart of American pop-culture, such as the green light that infinitely symbolizes achievement of the American dream. In my personal opinion, the symbols in this novel are just as important, if not more, than the actual plot itself, and its with some of my known knowledge and interpretations that specify the significance of a few of the heavy-hitter motifs and symbols. To begin, Ill kick off the discussion with the green light; at the very beginning of the novel, the green light solely represents Gatsbys desire and want of Daisy, which the reader quickly learns that she is his dream or ultimate goal. And almost as if it were a bit of foreshadowing (which Im almost positive it is), the green light is described by Nick as minute and far away (Fitzgerald, 1925, pg.27), and its with this quote that the audience gets the impression that the distance that separates Gatsby from the light makes it appear impossible for Gatsby to reach. Though at the start of the novel the symbol is seen as a simple light at the end of the Buchanans dock, and later Gatsbys strong desire for Daisy; by the end of the book, the light represents societys desire and the notion of being unable to achieve the materialistic American dream. This is made apparent throughout the novel by Gatsbys constant, undying love for Daisy along with all his attempts to court and woo her and her cold, callous, shallow behavior and

personality. The green light represents everything that haunts and beckons Gatsby, such as the emotional and physical distance between him and Daisy, life of the past that leads to the illusions and disappointments of the present, and the lure of great wealth-the successful, and glamorous lifestyle that companies it. Next, Ill talk about the recurring symbol of time and time-related motifs; in simple terms, time becomes a symbol of desire to reject change, as in changing times. This motif ties in with Gatsbys inclination to repeat and relive the past and also his inability to accept the changed personality and lifestyle of Daisy; the readers directly observe this when Gatsby meets Daisys daughter for the first time. Afterward he kept looking at the child with surprise. I dont think he had ever really believed in its existence before. (Fitzgerald, 1925, pg.109), this quote is a prime example of Gatsby being taken aback by evidence of Daisys difference, because he pictures her exactly the same as she was five years ago, its physically impossible for him to visualize her as the married, maternal caretaker versus the young, single, southern belle she once was. For my second piece of evidence, Ill use the quote when Gatsby reunites with Daisy for the first time in five years. Im sorry about the clock. (Fitzgerald, 1925, pg.81), this is the quote in which Gatsby knocks Nick's old clock off the mantle after recasting against it; both this statement and action could be taken in so many different directions, like the impression that time simply couldn't support the demands and pressure that Gatsby was putting on it. In the same scene, after the clock falls, he catches it, apologizes and promptly begins to try and repair it; all of which could be interpreted as things that happened in the past are unable to be fixed in the present. Time references also refer to the ticking down of Gatsby's own clock, such as when Nick states "Now in the reaction, he was running down like an overrun clock." ( Fitzgerald, 1925, pg.86). A paragraph before this quote, everything Gatsby has been dreaming of and preparing for has

finally happened; he has Daisy over at his place, and she seems both taken with his house, items, and most importantly, himself. So now that he's reached his fever pitch, the very tip of his peak, the only direction he can go now is down; this quote foreshadows the fall of the great Gatsby. Now, I'll discuss the symbols that Tom, Daisy, and Jordan represent; all three of them and people like them symbolize carelessness and irresponsibility. "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." (Fitzgerald, 1925, pg.166), this quote by Nick proves true to its word by their actions. It was Tom and Daisy 's carelessness that not only destroyed a couple's marriage, but also caused both of their deaths; Daisy hit and killed Myrtle with Gatsby's car while driving back from the city, and after George had "justified" his wife's murder, he then proceeded to kill himself. It was Daisy's carelessness that toyed with Gatsby's emotions all those years and then allowed him to take the blame for Myrtle's death, knowing he wouldn't let any repercussions come to her; which ultimately led to Gatsby's death from being killed by George who believed Gatsby was Myrtle's lover and murderer. These symbols and motifs have enhanced the plot of the novel and have told a tale not within the physical text. The symbols mentioned have certainly put the great in The Great Gatsby, as they add sufficient flavor and depth to the novel. Analyzing said symbols has been fascinating, as through my research, major revelations have been made regarding the secret language in-between the lines on the book. As stated before, the symbols and motifs found in the novel are of great importance as they make more than simple connections; they form complete interpretations versus helping-out or completing already half-formed analytic thoughts.

Citations

Symbols and symbolism in the great gatsby. (2013, November). Retrieved from http://123helpme.com/view.asp?id=7736 Brook, S. (2011, April 5). Symbolism in the great gatsby. Retrieved from http://sahbam16.hubpages.com/hub/Symbolism-in-the-Great-Gatsby Mundy, T. (2012, March 19). Symbolism in the great gatsby. Retrieved from http://symbolisminthegreatgatsby.blogspot.com/ Symbols in the great gatsby. (2009, October 14). Retrieved from http://litcharts.com/lit/the-greatgatsby/symbols

Original photo by Hunter Galindo; shows Gatsby reaching for the green light.