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Khaila Boakye
Ms. Forlini
English 3R
24 May 2013
Hopeful Desires
Symbolism, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “the art or practice of
using symbols especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the
invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations”. This literary device is
used by many authors, poets, and artists in literature and art. For example, F. Scott Fitzgerald,
author of The Great Gatsby, uses symbols to express Gatsby's hopes and dreams to revive the
past. Symbols, such as the green light, the color green, cars, and the mantle clock, are used to
express this dream.
The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams to relive
the past. In the beginning of the novel, Nick notices something strange about Gatsby. Nick
states, “…he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was
from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward – and
distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away…” (Fitzgerald 20).
Fitzgerald describes the green light as “minute and far away”, manifesting the idea that is
impossible to reach. The distance between Gatsby and the green light shows that Gatsby’s dream
was unattainable. The green light is the symbol that reminds Gatsby that he should continue
trying to bring the past back. According to Burnam, the green light projects Gatsby's wishes as
“a signal to go ahead” and his desperate attempt with his “unbroken series of successful
gestures”. Without the green light, Gatsby wouldn’t have the motivation to focus on Daisy. The
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green light also represents the physical and emotional distance between Gatsby and Daisy. Nick
Carraway says, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes
before us” (Fitzgerald 132). The distance between Gatsby and green light foreshadows the
unclear fate of Gatsby’s dream. Although symbols usually maintain their its symbolic value, the
green light loses its importance. Once Gatsby and Daisy finally connect physically and
emotionally, Gatsby no longer looks across the dock longing to see her because he could call and
or see her at any time.The green light and its many representations exemplifies Gatsby's attempt
to relive the past.
In depth of the green light, the color green symbolizes the motivation behind Gatsby’s
desire to revive the past. Nick Carraway states, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic
future that year by year recedes before us” (132). Green is the color of hope and motivation. In
that case, the green light is the the motivation telling Gatsby to keep on trying even though his
dream is basically impossible to achieve. The green light is the daily reminder that reminds
Gatsby that he needs to act fast. Barbara Will incorporates the idea that the color green is the
motivation that kept Gatsby going in her article. Will states that the light was green purposely to
show the motivation to become “face to face with the object of desire”. Even though Gatsby fails
in the past, he continues to try to attain the ultimate goal. The color green symbolizes new
growth, new life and new chances. The color green helps Gatsby realize he can still try and has
many more chances.The color green in the green light signifies the motivation behind Gatsby’s
attempt to relive the past.
The car driven by Gatsby symbolizes Gatsby’s drive to relive the past. Gatsby’s car is
described as a “rich cream color, bright with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and toolboxes, and with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns”- it is west Egg on wheels”
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(Fitzgerald 50). Gatsby’s car represents all the money and time Gatsby put into trying to impress
Daisy. It is an object that exemplifies all the effort Gatsby put into being the ideal man for Daisy.
Seiters states, “Gatsby’s car is an adolescent dream, the very vehicle for one who formed his
ideals as a teenager and never questioned them again”. Seiters is saying that Gatsby’s dream is
immature and not fully developed. Gatsby has the mind set that material things will bring Daisy
back which may have worked back when they were younger. Cars are included in significant
events in the novel:
“...a dozen headlights illuminated a bizarre and tumultuous scene. In the ditch beside the
road, right side up, but violently shorn of one wheel, rested a new coupé.... The sharp jut
of a wall accounted for the detachment of the wheel, which was now getting considerable
attention from a half dozen curious chauffeurs. However, as they left their cars blocking
the road, a harsh, discordant dun from those in the rear had been audible for some time
and added to the already violent confusion of the scene” (Fitzgerald 43).
In this scene, there is a major confusion after Gatsby’s party. Gatsby’s carelessness in controlling
the drivers foreshadows the future event of his death and the total destruction of his dream.
Seiters demonstrates that, “cars, in addition to death, have more normal function of carrying
people to destination [and to death]”. The car Gatsby drove back to East Egg takes upon the
meaning of death and destruction of Gatsby’s goal. Gatsby’s carelessness and lack of control
over the car when Daisy leads to his death and Myrtle and the end to his dream.
The mantle clock represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the emotions of the past. Nick
Carraway narrates, “Luckily the dock took this moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his
head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers and set it back in place”
(Fitzgerald 67). Gatsby’s capture of the clock displays Gatsby’s attempt to stop time. The clock
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freezes at a specific time which can be inferred to show the point when Gatsby realizes that
while he was poor, he couldn't be with Daisy. For instance, Gatsby is trapped in his dreams of
love with Daisy. The clock represents time and Gatsby’s head resting on it is the pressure Gatsby
was putting on time. Time is also considered Gatsby’s support in achieving his dream. Gatsby’s
revival of the clock represents his delicate approach in trying to bring the emotions of the past
back. Gatsby wants to be with Daisy again but in doing so he doesn't want to harm her in any
way of form. He wants the steps in getting her back to be smooth as possible and not have
feelings hurt. The clock falling over due to Gatsby's pressure displays Gatsby's clumsiness in his
attempt to retrieve the past. Burnam explains, “The act of leaning against a defunct clock, which
represents time, can be interrupted as Gatsby using time as support; yet time, in turn, has failed
him”. Burnam states this to show that time is valuable to Gatsby and was all he has to succeed in
being with Daisy. The mantle clocks proves that time was a necessity in trying to revive the past.
The use of symbols in The Great Gatsby helped display the hopes and dreams of Gatsby.
The green light is the most influential symbol which is the main factor that motivates him to
reach his goal, no matter if it was unattainable or not. The clock and cars are the secondary that
also display Gatsby's drive to attain the goal. All the symbols foreshadowed the chances of
Gatsby achieving his dream to relive the emotions of the past.
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Works Cited
Burnam, Tom. "The Eyes of Dr. Eckleburg: A Re-examination of The Great Gatsby." The Eyes
of Dr.
Eckleburg: A Re-examination of The Great Gatsby. National Council of Teachers of
English, 1952. Web. 09 Apr. 2013.
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1925. Print.
Seiters, Daniel. "On Imagery and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby." Bloom's Literary Reference
Online. Facts On File. Chelsea House Publishing, 2006. Web. 27 Apr. 2013.
Merriam-Webster. "Symbolism About Our Definitions: All Forms of a Word (noun, Verb, Etc.)
Are Now Displayed on One Page." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web.
Will, Barbara. "The Great Gatsby and the Obscene Word." Bloom's Literary Reference Online.
Facts
On File News Services, 2005. Web. 9 Apr. 2013.