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J. Eckleburg's Use Of Symbolism In The Great Gatsby

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In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s critically-acclaimed novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs symbolism expressed through Owl Eyes and T. J. Eckleburg’s characters in an attempt to depict God as an omniscient being who maintains a passive relationship with a self-destructive humanity. Due to the placement of T. J. Eckleburg’s advertisement over the Valley of Ashes and Owl Eyes’s continuous disposition to be in the background of events, on a symbolic level, it characterizes God as an omniscient being, forever lurking among humanity’s aspirations and achievements, or lack thereof. Not only is God resigned to peering over the citizens of Long Island, but His spiritual presence is often forgotten, resulting in His perceived acquiescent placement within …show more content…

Eckleburg’s billboard over the Valley of Ashes. While looking at the eyes of T. J. Eckleburg, Mr. Wilson says to Michaelis, “‘God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!’” (Fitzgerald 159). Despite all of the dishonesty and greed taking place in the vicinity of the characters, God is ultimately present in whatever endeavors you decide to pursue, whether they are beneficial or harmful intentions behind them. He is able to see through humanity’s facade and truly judge our actions. After discussing with Owl Eyes at the funeral, Nick states, “I’d never seen him since. I don’t know how he knew about the funeral, or even his name” (174). Although humanity has a general grasp of God’s abilities and His relationship to us, we are ultimately left with a sense of mystery concerning His character. Despite Nick constantly noticing Owl Eyes lurking around, he has yet to understand his background. Although no one seemed to invite Owl Eyes to Gatsby’s funeral, he somehow knew of the event and its location further emphasizing God’s omniscience. According to Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism, God reflects a higher being that expresses the ideals of transcendence and

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"But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T.J Eckleburg" (Fitzgerald 23). These eyes are more than what they appear to be. They are mounted on a billboard that watches over the Valley of Ashes, which stands between West Egg and New York City. This location is what makes Dr. T.J Eckleburg's eyes so significant and important to the book because the idea of watching over a grey and decayed society is how it relates to today. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of the popular 1920’s novel, The Great Gatsby, only mentions the eyes twice throughout the entire story, which leaves an impression that is key to understanding the novel.

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Fitzgerald uses imagery to show how objects and nature contributes to the characters and plot. Ghost and Death represents betrayals and violent deaths. Fitzgerald makes deaths expected in his novel. This creates the haunted mood for the readers. The haunted mood Fitzgerald wanted to create is associated with ghostly things including wealth, dreams, and Gatsby himself.

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Throughout the film and novel, there are two things that symbolize “God’s eyes.” One of them is owl eyes, an important character in the book and film. He only shows up a few times, but he seems to be there for Gatsby more than others with the exception of Nick. In chapter three, during one of Gatsby’s celebrations, owl eyes talks to Nick about the books in the library that Gatsby owns. The books in the library were living proof of who Gatsby really was.

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In the novel The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the lack of morality and judgement in the story is pervaded by various symbols throughout the novel, but none are more startling and apparent than the Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg which convey a message of judgement and instill a sense of unease in the characters who come across them. At the start of the story, Tom Buchanan takes Nick to the Valley of Ashes, where readers make the first connection to Eckleburg's eyes, “we walked back a hundred yards along the road under Dr. Eckleburg’s persistent stare... ‘terrible place, isn’t it,’ said Tom, exchanging a frown with Dr. Eckleburg” (Fitzgerald 20). The disembodied eyes are part of a faded billboard that stares across the barren and wretched terrain of the valley.

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Eckleberg's eyes witness some of the novels largest ethical collapses. The first of these is evidenced in Fitzgerald's quote “But above the gray land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessy over it, you percieve, after a moment, the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg”(23). Nick refers to this area as “the valley of ashes”(Fitzgerald 23). The site of the billboard doubles as a representation for the poverty and class system that persisted in the time period, accompanied by the hypocrisy of the country's wealth boasting attitude. In the most literal sense, Eckleberg's eyes are an advertisement, which eludes to the harsh effects of capitalisim on the people who were unable to make it big.

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The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald is filled with symbolism, clear illustration using words, and a detailed, structural story line that all come together to create tone. In the following passage, the tone is shown using these three literary devices. “About half way between West Egg and New York the motor road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile, so as to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. 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 houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air.

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He was a son of God – a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that – and he must be about His Father’s Business, the service of a vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty. (98) Gatsby himself is deeply different from the common mankind. As readers understand Gatsby’s past, they figure out how his parents were unsuccessful.

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One of the strongest recognized themes In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is God’s harsh judgment of man’s immorality and corruption, resulting in just consequences. However, If readers further examine the plot and events of the novel it becomes evident that the theme is the lack of Godly judgment and presence of human criticisms. Fitgerald utilizes symbols such as Gatsby’s pool, the billboard, and Nick’s commentary to subtly manifest the theme that humanity is beyond the reach of God’s judgment, and all actions and reparations are direct results of the people themselves, with no influence but their own corruption and lawlessly destructive nature. This is a satirical work that pokes at religion; the concept that God delivers justice in the end is slowly torn

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Scott Fitzgerald utilizes literary elements such as visual imagery, connotation, and mood to convey the importance of hopes and dreams throughout his novel. Through the descriptive imagery of Gatsby's smile and the hopeless scene of the drizzling rain after Gatsby's death, Fitzgerald is able to depict the significance of hopes and dreams in every character's life. The use of negative connotation illustrates how the absence of hope leads to emptiness, while the positive mood of the parties illustrates how hopes and dreams inspire a sense of purpose. Fitzgerald's creative use of literary elements highlights the importance of holding onto one's hopes and dreams and the importance they hold. The novel serves as a reminder that without these aspirations, life can become a bleak and meaningless

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Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism through colours and religious motifs brings out a critique of the pursuit of the American dream, in how such a pursuit of material wealth is ultimately worthless. Through the use of religious and color motifs, Fitzgerald Parallels can be drawn between Gatsby’s final journey to the swimming pool and Christ’s path to crucifixion. “Gatsby shouldered the mattress and started for the pool. Once he stopped and shifted it a little, and the chauffeur asked him if he needed help, but he shook his head and in a moment disappeared among the yellowing trees” (Chapter 8, Page 128)

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“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man 's needs, but not every man 's greed.” As humans, we work hard in order to have the greatest opportunity to succeed in life, which will fulfill our wants. F Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, utilizes effective language and punctuation in the text, which helps him accomplish his purpose: Illustrate what material goods does to a society. From a rhetorical standpoint, examining logos, ethos, and pathos, this novel serves as a social commentary on how the pursuit of “The American Dream” causes the people in society to transform into greedy and heartless individuals.

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Most notably in an initial observation we see the reference to Dr. T. J. Eckleberg as the eyes of God throughout the book. The irony of this is that the eyes preside over where the Wilsons live and the Valley of Ashes as a whole, condemning the place as a breeding ground for sin, specifically infidelity. The eyes target the affair between Tom Buchannan and Myrtle Wilson. Though Pearson claims in his article, "Rather than an "inverted Christ'' or God, Gatsby is a perverted God; one who is dedicated to the physical rather than the spiritual world," unlike many other scholars (Pearson 369 to 370). Pearson is unable to see a meaning in other theories and finds the connection of Gatsby as an allusion to God.

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The valley of ashes also symbolizes the difficulties of the poor, like George Wilson, who live among the dirty ashes and lose their vitality as a result. THE EYES OF DOCTOR T. J. ECKLEBURG Another dominant symbol within this novel is the billboard eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg which is in the middle of the valley of ashes, right next to Wilson’s garage staring at the waste that careless capitalism has

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Throughout many brilliant works of literature, a common item is placed amongst them: symbols. Symbols are often a key to further understanding a point the author is trying to convey to their readers. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, he utilizes the literary tool of symbols to illustrate a larger picture for his themes and characters within the novel. For example, the color green plays a prominent role in The Great Gatsby throughout the duration of the novel. However, the color has can have various interpretations.

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Starting in Chapter Two, the group arrives at the “Valley of Ashes” and passes a big billboard as they drive through to the City. The billboard, staring down the crowd with the large spectacles, is advertising Dr. T.J. Eckelburg, the Long Island optician. Through the use of symbolism, the eyes are supposed to represent an all-seeing god, who is looking over and influencing the illegal and

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