Symbolism in
Literature
• Sometimes, there’s more to literature
than meets the eye….
– Characters
– Items
– Colors
– Names
Symbolism and The Great
Gatsby
• Just as characterization, dialogue, and
plot work on the surface to move the
story along, symbolism works under the
surface to tie the story's external action
to a universal theme.
Symbolism Continued…
• The mere sight of a skull and crossbones figure and you
know that there is something that you are being warned
against.
• Roses and images of hearts have become synonymous
with love.
• Different colors have come to symbolize different
emotions, for example purple for royalty, green for envy
and red for passion or anger.
• Symbolism in literature has been a writing method of
choice for many authors and writers due to the
allowance of subtlety that this literary device enables
you with.
Characters as Symbols
• Authors sometimes create characters who
represent societal influences
– Ex. The Wicked Witch represents the evil that exists
in society
– Ex. Glenda the good witch symbolizes the benevolent
side of society
• Characters can also represent ideas,
prejudices, beliefs, etc.
Colors as Symbols
• The color “green” is normally associated with
jealousy; however, it can also represent
money/wealth. Ex. Green eyed monster–
Shakespeare made up in Othello 
• The color white is most often used to represent
purity or goodness whereas darker colors such as
black or gray symbolize wickedness or evil
Places as Symbols
• Water/rivers are often used to
symbolize a cleansing or freedom
• Hollywood is a known symbol for
wealth and fame
So what do the people,
places, and items in the
novel we are about to
read actually
represent?
It’s time for you to decide,
Old Sport…
Symbols in The Great Gatsby
• Green Light- Visible from Gatsby’s mansion~
Not going to tell you what this symbolizes….
You have to figure this out on your own.
Symbols in The Great Gatsby
• The Valley of Ashes- the area between West
Egg and New York City. It is a desolate area
filled with industrial waste.
• Interesting… what could this symbolize????
Symbols in The Great Gatsby
• The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg- A decaying
billboard in the Valley of Ashes with eyes
advertising an optometrist. There are multiple
proposed meanings, I wonder what they are….
Symbols in The Great Gatsby
• East and West Egg- The two major settings of
the novel act as a physical symbol. The barrier
that the water creates between these worlds
is symbolic of the barrier that keeps these
people apart from one another and from
much of what they want.
Topics in The Great Gatsby
(which you will make into themes…)
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Marriage and Infidelity
Love
Society and Class
Wealth
Isolation
Gender
Dissatisfaction
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Lies and Truth
Relationships
American Dream
Compassion and
Forgiveness
• Culture Clash
• Carelessness and
Selfishness
Characters of The Great Gatsby
• Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who
lives next door to Nick Carraway and loves
Daisy Buchanan
Characters of The Great Gatsby
• Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin,
and Gatsby’s neighbor
Characters in The Great Gatsby
• Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s
love interest before the war, socialite
Other Characters in
The Great Gatsby
• Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affair
with Myrtle
• Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city,
married to George
• George Wilson- owns the gas station
• Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, professional
golfer
Settings in The Great Gatsby
• West Egg- where Nick
and Gatsby live,
represents new money
• East Egg- where Daisy &
Tom live, the more
fashionable area,
represents old money
Settings in The Great Gatsby
• The City- New York City, where the characters
escape to for work and play
• The Valley of Ashes- between the City and
West Egg, where Wilson’s
gas station is
Important Quotes
• “I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a
girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
Daisy’s description of her daughter
• “So we beat on, boats against the current,
borne back ceaselessly into the past.” –the last
line of the novel
Important Quotes
• "They were careless people, Tom and Daisythey 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." – Nick’s description
of Tom and Daisy