How Does Fitzgerald Use Time In The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald uses time and the love story between two of his characters to reveal a theme about time's barriers in his novel The Great Gatsby. Those characters, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, partake in a complicated love affair in which Daisy tries to cheat on her husband and renew her love with Gatsby, an old flame from her home town of Louisville. Before their lives become separated by the war Gatsby fights in and the choices each other make, Gatsby and Daisy "were so engrossed in each other" in their youthful days in Louisville that their love could take them anywhere they wish (79). At this point, their love contains no barriers and is simply pure. Instead of staying together and allowing their love to flourish, they separate; with this separation, Daisy chooses to

Years later, they frivolously attempt to restore their love at the house of Daisy's cousin, Nick Carraway. Years, and many decisions later, it at the house of Daisy's cousin and Gatsby's most trusted friend, Nick Carraway, that their frivolous attempt to restore their love begins. Fitzgerald uses a clock resting on a mantle to represent the barriers the two have created through choices they make over the time that they are separated. After Gatsby knocks the clock over and catches it, all present gaze at the floor as if it "[smashes] in[to] pieces on the floor"(92). By believing that the clock is broken, Gatsby and Daisy also believe in the fantasy that their love is free from obstacles even though the clock, with its symbolic characteristics, remains in tact. Again, their love starts growing until the main obstacle of Daisy's marriage with Tom Buchanan hinders the growth of their love. Next, Daisy brings Gatsby over to her house while Tom is at home to boast of her beloved Gatsby. It is later in this day that Tom brings to light Gatsby's obstruction, his