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Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

 

            
             The twenties was a time where bootlegging was rampant and people acquired wealth and achieved their goals. One of these men was Jay Gatsby. The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays themes of desire, seeing, and social class separation, through the use of symbols such as the green light, the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg, and the conflict between East and West Egg. .
             One of the most prominent symbols in the novel is the green light at the end of the dock. The light represents desire and a goal for Gatsby, consequently Nick says that one of Gatsby's goals had been accomplished after meeting with Daisy, his former lover: "Possibly it had never occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever Now it was again a green light on a dock." (94) Although the meeting with Daisy reduced the significance of the green light, this symbol still remained prominent in his life. The light represents Gatsby's desire to incorporate himself with the rich upper class and eventually marry Daisy. The reason that Daisy did not want to marry Gatsby was that he did not associate himself with the upper class, so in an attempt to prove to Daisy that he had acquired wealth, he threw many lavishing parties. Gatsby will continually reach for the light because he will never truly reach his goal of the upper class of East Egg because of his nouveau riche standard. .
             Similar to the green light, the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg portray more than one theme but mostly represent the theme of seeing. George Wilson looks up at the eyes and claims that they are the eyes of God, "and I said "God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me but you can't fool God!" Standing behind him, Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg." (160) Wilson spoke the truth, in that that the eyes do watch over many important events that unfold in the novel.


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