Mariah Hanson
Block 1, HAS
2/17/14
Gatsby Essay: Symbols
In The Great Gatsby, written by Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald practices the use
of contextual and universal symbolism to advance the plot throughout this entire 1920’s novel.
The Great Gatsby is an extraordinary piece of work that offers an interesting view into the world
of the 1920’s throughout many characters of the book. The novel explores the idea of
carelessness and tragedy in the 1920’s.
Fitzgerald also strongly depicts the 1920’s as a time for
deterioration of social and moral values which is driven by the desire of greed and wealth. In the
end, Fitzgerald uses symbolism through the green light, The Valley of Ashes and the weather to
advance the plot and it ultimately leads to a very tragic ending that was foreshadowed multiple
times throughout this novel.
Throughout this novel, Gatsby’s love for Daisy is extremely apparent and drives Gatsby
to unthinkable measures to prove his love to Daisy. For example, Gatsby bought a house close to
Daisy just so he could throw extravagant parties to impress her and get her attention. At the end
of Daisy’s dock, which is situated in East Egg, is a green light. Gatsby can barely see the green
light from his house, but this green light is a symbol of Gatsby’s hopes and dreams with Daisy in
the future. The green light first appears in chapter one “he stretched out his arms towards 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” (26).
Here, for the first time Nick has just observed Gatsby’s love for Daisy. The green light reminds
Gatsby so much of Daisy that he eventually rekindles his love for her which causes many
conflicts throughout the book between many of the characters. Gatsby reaches out for the green
light like he is reaching out for Daisy; he yearns for Daisy and her love. Therefore, the
contextual symbolism of the green light drives the plot through Gatsby’s love of Daisy;
eventually resulting in the corruption of Tom and Daisy’s marriage and many other significant
events. The green light provides hope for Gatsby making him want to get back together with
Daisy, advancing the plot even further. This is one instance of how the usage of symbolism has
driven the plot of this novel.
Many times throughout this book the 1920’s is glorified through the Buchanan and
Gatsby’s fancy lifestyle. The 1920’s was often thought to be a time of carelessness and wealth
for many, but it was also a time of despair and struggle for others. The Valley of Ashes is a key
symbol of moral and social decay that the lower class of the 1920’s faced. The Valley of Ashes
challenges the idea of how the 1920’s isn’t all big parties and fancy shiny things like Gatsby’s
parties and the Buchanan’s life style makes it out to be. Many live in the dirty ashes of The
Valley of Ashes, struggling to make a living. George Wilson is a prime example of the trouble of
the poor in the 1920’s. The Valley of Ashes appears many times throughout this novel, “This is
a valley of ashes- a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and
grotesque gardens, where ashes take the forms of house and chimneys and rising smoke and
finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already mumbling though the
powder air,” (27). The Valley of Ashes is obviously not a pleasant place to be and it is very
dark and dreary there. It is often seen to be where the upper class dumps their problems which is
seen with the killing of Daisy and Tom’s affair with Myrtle in The Valley of Ashes. The Valley
of Ashes advances the plot by showing the diversity of the 1920’s. Without George and his
garage in The Valley of Ashes the conflict between Gatsby and Wilson would have not occurred.
The Valley of Ashes offers perspective by revealing that not everything is what it seems. This is
later seen through both Tom and Daisy’s marriage and George’s and Myrtle’s. Overall, The
Valley of Ashes is a symbol of plight and decay of the 1920’s advancing the plot by offering a
place for many dark and ruthless things to happen outside of the pleasant world of East and West
Egg.
The Valley of Ashes may offer a spot for evil things to happen but the symbol of weather
foreshadows these ideas in many occurrences. The weather plays a key role in advancing the
plot by letting the reader indirectly know what may happen next. The characters moods are
represented in the weather just like when Gatsby and Daisy met for the first time since their love
affair 5 years earlier “ The day agreed upon was pouring rain,” (88). The rain suggests a mood
of sadness and awkwardness but after their love for each other rekindles the sun reappears,
suggesting happiness and love.
In addition to that instance, the weather also foreshadows the
main climax of the novel, “The next day was broiling, almost the last, certainly the warmest, of
the summer,” (120). This hot summer day tells that the main conflict of the book is coming and
many conformations between numerous characters happens later in the day. The summer season
symbolizes conflict and the climax of the book while the fall season shows death and change.
Overall, weather is an important symbol of the coming change and it advances the plot by adding
a clue to the conflict that is to come and making emotions run higher.
The Great Gatsby explores many themes and ideas that were part of the 1920’s. The use
of contextual and universal symbolism advances the plot greatly in various ways. The
symbolism of the green light provides hope while The Valley of Ashes provides a place for evil
things to happen in what seems like a perfect world of the 1920’s. Lastly the use of weather is a
symbolism of what is to come and how it affects the moods and tones of the characters.
Ultimately, Fitzgerald uses symbolism through the green light, The Valley of Ashes and the
weather to advance the plot. In the end the use of many different symbols leads to a tragic
ending that indicates not everything is what it appears. The 1920’s is a great example of a gilded
age.