"THE GREAT GATSBY". F.SCOTT. FITZGERALD CORINNENOTES
"THE GREAT GATSBY". F.SCOTT. FITZGERALD
SYMBOLISM
SYMBOLISM OF THE SETTING.
VALLEY OF ASHES: Basically the valley of ashes represents the reality of the American Dream. The valley of ashes is Fitzgerald's literal waste land. It also links with the use of water symbolism and the conflict between heat and rain. Myrtle dies in the valley of ashes as a product of the waste land around her and the "fast drivers" (both metaphorically and literally) which this has produced. There is a sharp contrast between it and East Egg and yet they are linked by the reality of the American Dream (see themes) which is merely a facade. Considering that the novel is full of "fast drivers" it is highly symbolic that the garage is in the middle of the valley of ashes, this is where the "drivers" all originate from and all seem fated to return. Here is also the symbolism of Dr T. J.Eckleburg's eyes. This is a very complex symbol (and you should really analyse the colours) but basically it links to God, who may be the "wild wag oculist" whom Nick refers to. In the waste land God is either dead, no longer cares about man or has left the waste land he has made, leaving behind only what man hath made - an advertisement. There is also the symbolism of the glasses (also links to Owl Eyes). Glasses are supposed to make you see better but in the novel this is traumatic - when Nick finally sees he is forced to state that "the east is haunted...distorted beyond my eyes". Clarity and the realisation of the reality of the dream is a painful discovery which not all of the characters (and maybe not even society) are capable of doing.
EAST AND WEST EGG:Look at the symbolism of the eggs (basically the idea of whether America has produced two or really only one). Gatsby's house and its grotesque nature and how it symbolises the need for meaning and substance. Parallel this with Tom's comment on turning a "stable into a garage" (which Wilson can never do). Is there any real difference between the "old" money of the Buchanans in the east and new money Gatsby (and no money Nick) in the west? Relate this to the fact that they are all westerners as Nick points out.
An analysis of the Merton college library:
"Merton College Library" connects to Oxford University and Gatsby's attempts at defining himself. The books in the library which Owl Eyes notices are "absolutely real" represent Gatsby - people (and maybe even the reader) expect him to be fake but in reality he has pages and is therefore real. The fact that Gatsby names his library after the one at Merton College in Oxford University shows how Gatsby wants to be real and have substance below the surface. However he undoubtedly fails because only Owl Eyes (and later Nick) notices that the books are "real".
You could also deal with the final passages of the novel here and the symbolism of the "green breast of the new world" and how it links to Myrtle's left breast "swinging loose like a flap". The purpose of this is to show how America has been desecrated, mutilated and violated.
SYMBOLISM OF WATER: "So we beat on,boats against the current,borne back ceaselessly into the past". The key to the use of water symbols in the novel is to note that Fitzgerald knew by heart a poem called "The Waste Land" by T.S.Eliot.You don't need to read the poem because it takes about three years to understand it (and may also make you suicidal) but the gist of the use of water is that it provides cleansing and redemption for all of the characters within the waste land (see themes). Fitzgerald's characters are equally in a waste land (and maybe all the rest of society as well) and the final passages of the novel with the sailors seeing America represents the hope for redemption which has eventually manifested itself in the "American Dream". We are the "boats" trying to return to this initial hope for cleansing but the materialism of the Buchanans and society is the current which we are struggling against.
This struggle of Gatsby's is shown by the fact that the "green light" which represents his dream of Daisy is across the "dark water" at the end of the dock. The "dark water" is the water which is available in the society which Gatsby lives in - it provides neither redemption nor cleansing. Instead it leaves Gatsby with "outstretched arms" desperately attempting to fight the current which is condemning his dream to the past.It also rains during chapter five but it is Nick, rather than Gatsby who stands out in it.
In the poem that I mentioned there is a passage entitled "Death By Water" and it is notable that Gatsby dies in his pool. There is a lovely passage at the end of chapter eight (page 154 in my copy) which uses images of water. Before he dies Gatsby has realised the truth about the "dark water" and his pool is without the strong current which he has been battling against, instead it has "ripples". This is the first positive image of water in the entire novel.
The fact that Gatsby's funeral is characterised by "drizzle" is also important for the use of water symbolism. The day that Myrtle dies is characterised by intense heat, which is a product of the lack of water and redemption. At Gatsby's funeral the rain "pours" and it is stated that "Blessed are the dead that the rain falls on". This is a metaphor for all the characters as well as Gatsby's death. By dying for Daisy Gatsby manages to transcend the barriers of his materialism and be redeemed. At last the rain can fall on him. Equally the rain falls on Nick and Owl Eyes. They too know the truth about the power of this water.
The fog horn: Various aspects of weather seem to characterise the novel and so the image of "fog" would suggest a lack of clarity. Combined with the "horn" it would suggest a warning. Maybe it symbolises Gatsby's lack of clarity (or even Nick's). Later in the same paragraph Nick talks about "warning" Gatsby, is Nick the "fog horn"? I have to say that I doubt that any of the characters are, none of them have enough clarity themselves to be able to warn other characters. Nick's undoubtedly comes from the power of hindsight, he is afterall just another "bad driver". The fog horn acts as a warning for all of the characters as to the downfall which their actions are leading to, whether they are able to realise it or not.
SYMBOLISM OF CARS: Fitzgerald associates the process of America turning itself into a rubbish heap in the valley of ashes with the spread of the car (a modern day writer might go for bombs or genetic engineering). The bad driving, accidents and cars kill not only people but also the land itself. Bad driver Jordan Baker's very name is composed of the makes of two cars. Gatsby's car itself is also highly important as , like its owner people disagree on what colour it is some thinking its green and others cream coloured when really it is yellow. The symbolism of the colours of the cars should be noted. Tom's car is blue and blue represents water, twilight, the sky,cool, restful, inviting. Yellow however represents wheat, sunshine,fertility,whisky,gold and dead combustible straw and is thus ambiguous for what seems attractive and warm may turn combustible, violent,too hot (Tom's hair is straw-coloured). Considering this it is misleading that Gatsby's car is yellow and Tom's is blue when really they should be the other way round. However it is appropriate that they swop cars when their struggle over Daisy reaches its climax.
THE CUFFLINKS: Having human molars as cufflinks represents the triumph of materialism over humans.It reduces people to mere inanimate objects which can be bought for decoration. Given the materialism and lack of emotion which surrounds the novel it is unsurprising that this occurs. The use of ivory links to animals being killed for it. Maybe what Fitzgerald is suggesting is that humans are killing themselves, or each other (metaphorically) by their pursuit of material possessions.
THE CLOCK: A preoccupation of Gatsby's is his desire to turn back time (see themes). His clumsiness (both metaphorically and literally) is shown by the fact that when he comes into contact with the clock in Nick's house he nearly knocks it over. This clock may well be "defunct" but elsewhere the clocks are ticking on Gatsby's dream (there are over 400 time words in the novel).