Does George Wilson's Mansion Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby offers a vivid portrayal of the characters’ personalities through their homes. From Gatsby’s luxurious mansion to the modest home of George Wilson, each character’s home reveals their status, values, and ambitions. Gatsby’s mansion is a symbol of his wealth and extravagant lifestyle. The house is described as a “colo“cheerful red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion, overlooking the bay affair by any standard” (Fitzgerald 6) and is decorated with luxurious items such as “marble swimming pools” and “fountains” (Fitzgerald 5). The glory of Gatsby’s home reflects his desire to impress and win back his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby uses his wealth to create a lot of success and sophistication to impress …show more content…

The description of the home is bleak with “dusty curtains” and “gray land” (Fitzgerald 23). Wilson’s humble abode highlights his low social status and his struggle to make ends meet. His home reveals his lack of ambition and his inability to escape the dullness of his working-class life. Tom and Daisy Buchanan’s home, on the other hand, symbolizes that they don’t care about anything major in life and lack of substance. The mansion is described as as “cheerful red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion, overlooking the bay” (Fitzgerald 6). The home’s “picture-perfect” exterior masks the couple’s emptiness and moral decay. The house is a symbol of their privileged lives and their lack of real connection to the world around them. Fitzgerald also uses the description of Nick Carraway’s small bungalow to reflect his character. The home is located on the outskirts of the wealthy East Egg and is described as “an eyesore among eyesores” (Fitzgerald 10). Nick’s home is a symbol of his humble nature and his detachment from the extravagance and excesses of the wealthy elite. His home reveals his desire for simplicity and