Imagery in ‘The Great Gatsby’: Illusions and Tragic Pursuits

Decoding the 1920s: Women, Symbols, and the Fleeting American Dream in Fitzgerald’s Masterpiece

The Great Gatsby is an F Scott Fitzgerald book that brings you right back to the roaring 1920s, which is known in that time as a time of fame, excitement, and Glamour. This book is very intriguing and known for its hidden secrets and interesting signs and symbols. In this book, women play a big role in this story. The author uses women to embrace the American Dream.

The American Dream, in Nick’s’s eyes, is something that “Exists but cannot be sustained” and that “nothing last forever.” The American Dream is where people go if they want to have a good time or go if they try to be sneaky with other people or do things that can’t be done in the comfort of their own homes. Even though that may be the regular reason why some people just go just to enjoy themselves and have a good time, sometimes the American Dream can be a “Nightmare.” F Scott Fitzgerald mainly uses women as characters to embrace the American Dream because of their beauty and personality. In this story, I will talk about Nick, Symbols, and different settings throughout the story.

Mansion of Memories: The Dual Symbolism of Gatsby’s Grand Abode

In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby’s mansion plays a good role in the story. Most of the events happen in the mansion, such as the parties when Gatsby reaches out for the green light on his dock when Daisy sees him again after so long, and the murder when he got shot by Myrtle’s husband and when Tom ran her over and they thought it was Gatsby because of his car. All the events that happened outside his mansion seemed to be coming in, and it seemed like everything that happened was linked to him. But in the story, Gatsby’s mansion represents “Grandness and Emptiness” Due to all the parties Gatsby threw, his house would still end up empty, especially when he died, and nobody went to his funeral. Also, Gatsby’s love for Daisy, Gatsby used his “New money ‘to create a place that was comparable to “old money” that took her away.

Imagery in ‘The Great Gatsby’: Nick’s Perspective and the Layers of Truth

Nick is one of the main characters in this story. Throughout this book, he seems to introduce every character in this story and what they were all like. In this book, he plays as an author of The Great Gatsby in F Scott. Fitzgerald’s book. In this story, Nick is curious about Gatsby and what he is like. In the beginning, he heard all these stories and rumors about him, and it was hard for him to believe who he really was. Nick was the only one who was invited to Gatsby’s party. Nobody got an invitation but him, so it seemed as if Gatsby was interested in meeting him. He was always there for Gatsby and always writing about him. Nick went to Yale and liked reading. He fought in World War 1 and ended up moving to the East to work in a bond business which is finance in New York. Nick can be stuck up sometimes but sometimes depreciate himself on certain characteristics and traits. He calls himself “one of the few honest people I have ever known. But Nick is a very important person in this book as he describes the other characters in this book and tells the adventures and places he goes to and tells his experience.

Chasing the Elusive Dream: The Symbolism of the Green Light and Gatsby’s Tragic End

The Greenlight in the book stood out the most in the book. It represented Gatsby’s dream, and that was Daisy. If Gatsby were to get Daisy back, To Gatsby that would complete his
American Dream. In the book F Scott. Fitzgerald said, “He stretched out his arms towards the dark waters in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could’ve sworn he was trembling.”. The green light represented her, and he was anxious to see her again. This is proof that he knew Daisy was on the other side of the waters. Also, Gatsby’s curiosity to see Daisy again is also a desire for the past. Five years ago, in the story, they had fallen in love. So, he wanted to get her back with her and be happy together.
The Great Gatsby had a very emotional ending, with him dying. Nick feels bad for Gatsby; He says, “After Gatsby’s death, the East was haunted for me like that, Distorted beyond my eyes, power of correction. So, when the blue smoke of brittle leaves was in the air, and the wind blew the wet laundry stiff on the line, I decided to come back home”. Gatsby may have seemed like he had everything and a whole bunch of friends, but the truth is he didn’t. The Great Gatsby was a book about a man (Gatsby) trying to figure out what his American Dream was. But in the end, what Gatsby thought was his American dream ended up getting him killed.

References:

1. Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Scribner.

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