I think a lot of people miss the symbolism in the unwavering heat and the way the pool comes up at the end. The heat in the final confrontation scene (the one where Myrtle gets hit) is symbolic of the pressure cooker situation the truth is coming out and things are finally boiling over into violence. Then, the pool… Gatsby is finally relaxing, taking a swim on the one day he hasn’t been using the house for parties, just before he gets shot. It’s the one moment of peace and solitude he gets. The pool, which was meant for enjoyment, becomes his literal grave. It symbolizes the tragic finality and the end of his dream, making his death seem almost sacrificial or purifying, even though it was senseless.
I’d focus on the irony of Gatsby’s mansion. It’s huge and gorgeous, throwing these insane parties, but it’s completely hollow. That’s the symbolism right there. He fills it with people every weekend, but he doesn’t know any of them, and they don’t care about him. It’s a symbol of his isolation, his deep, desperate loneliness, and how wealth and superficiality can’t buy real connection or happiness. Everyone is there for the free booze, not for him. His dream is basically trapped inside this big, empty monument to a past he can’t get back.
I always thought the biggest symbol was the East Egg versus West Egg thing. It’s a perfect visual of the old money versus new money conflict, right? East Egg has the generational wealth, the established, almost snobby, status (Tom and Daisy), and West Egg is where the strivers are, trying to buy their way in (Gatsby). It’s not just geography; it’s a huge class divider and it’s why Gatsby could never really be accepted, no matter how much money he made.
When I wrote my paper on Gatsby, I found the Valley of Ashes the most depressing but most interesting symbol. It’s like the dumping ground for the American Dream. Everything between the wealth of the Eggs and the city, it’s where the real working class lives, suffering, completely forgotten by the rich folks. It’s the literal soot and waste created by the unchecked pursuit of luxury. The poverty there makes the Eggs’ parties feel even more sickening and meaningless.
Oh man, Gatsby is all about the symbols. For your assignment, definitely focus on the yellow car. It’s not just a car; it’s like a symbol of the danger and carelessness of that whole wealthy set, especially Jordan and Daisy. Gatsby makes all his money with this shady stuff, and the yellow car is flashy and new, a sign of his newly acquired wealth his new money. But then it’s what kills Myrtle, and they just drive off. It’s the ultimate picture of their moral bankruptcy. They use their wealth (symbolized by the expensive car) to literally destroy others and then face no real consequences. Plus, yellow is usually a happy color, but here it’s got this kind of gaudy, dangerous vibe, like fool’s gold.
Honestly, if you want an easy A, talk about color symbolism. Fitzgerald is obsessed with it. I already mentioned the green light, but think about white and gold. Daisy always wears white, which should symbolize purity and innocence, but it’s totally ironic because she’s anything but pure; she’s careless. Gold, like the “golden girl” Daisy and Gatsby’s gold-colored items, represents wealth, but it’s often tarnished or fake, hinting at the corruption underlying the Jazz Age’s glitz. Then you have the blue of Gatsby’s garden, representing the illusion or fantasy he lives in. Color is a super accessible way to write a good paper.
I think a lot of people miss the symbolism in the unwavering heat and the way the pool comes up at the end. The heat in the final confrontation scene (the one where Myrtle gets hit) is symbolic of the pressure cooker situation the truth is coming out and things are finally boiling over into violence. Then, the pool… Gatsby is finally relaxing, taking a swim on the one day he hasn’t been using the house for parties, just before he gets shot. It’s the one moment of peace and solitude he gets. The pool, which was meant for enjoyment, becomes his literal grave. It symbolizes the tragic finality and the end of his dream, making his death seem almost sacrificial or purifying, even though it was senseless.
I’d focus on the irony of Gatsby’s mansion. It’s huge and gorgeous, throwing these insane parties, but it’s completely hollow. That’s the symbolism right there. He fills it with people every weekend, but he doesn’t know any of them, and they don’t care about him. It’s a symbol of his isolation, his deep, desperate loneliness, and how wealth and superficiality can’t buy real connection or happiness. Everyone is there for the free booze, not for him. His dream is basically trapped inside this big, empty monument to a past he can’t get back.
I always thought the biggest symbol was the East Egg versus West Egg thing. It’s a perfect visual of the old money versus new money conflict, right? East Egg has the generational wealth, the established, almost snobby, status (Tom and Daisy), and West Egg is where the strivers are, trying to buy their way in (Gatsby). It’s not just geography; it’s a huge class divider and it’s why Gatsby could never really be accepted, no matter how much money he made.
When I wrote my paper on Gatsby, I found the Valley of Ashes the most depressing but most interesting symbol. It’s like the dumping ground for the American Dream. Everything between the wealth of the Eggs and the city, it’s where the real working class lives, suffering, completely forgotten by the rich folks. It’s the literal soot and waste created by the unchecked pursuit of luxury. The poverty there makes the Eggs’ parties feel even more sickening and meaningless.
Oh man, Gatsby is all about the symbols. For your assignment, definitely focus on the yellow car. It’s not just a car; it’s like a symbol of the danger and carelessness of that whole wealthy set, especially Jordan and Daisy. Gatsby makes all his money with this shady stuff, and the yellow car is flashy and new, a sign of his newly acquired wealth his new money. But then it’s what kills Myrtle, and they just drive off. It’s the ultimate picture of their moral bankruptcy. They use their wealth (symbolized by the expensive car) to literally destroy others and then face no real consequences. Plus, yellow is usually a happy color, but here it’s got this kind of gaudy, dangerous vibe, like fool’s gold.
Honestly, if you want an easy A, talk about color symbolism. Fitzgerald is obsessed with it. I already mentioned the green light, but think about white and gold. Daisy always wears white, which should symbolize purity and innocence, but it’s totally ironic because she’s anything but pure; she’s careless. Gold, like the “golden girl” Daisy and Gatsby’s gold-colored items, represents wealth, but it’s often tarnished or fake, hinting at the corruption underlying the Jazz Age’s glitz. Then you have the blue of Gatsby’s garden, representing the illusion or fantasy he lives in. Color is a super accessible way to write a good paper.