Literary Devices In The Great Gatsby

The American Dream is a concept that has been coveted by many, as it promises a better life, opportunities for success, and the ability to achieve one's aspirations. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby explores this idea and depicts how it is flawed in reality. With this definition in mind, Fitzgerald uses symbolism and other literary devices to represent the American Dream in The Great Gatsby as being associated with superficiality and a lack of morality.
Primarily, In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses symbolism and other literary devices to represent the American dream with Superficiality. The characters lead lives of luxury, driving fancy cars, swimming in their personal pools, and hosting glamorous parties. However, their true personalities and lives are often empty and vacuous, as exemplified in Chapter 2 when Fitzgerald personifies Gatsby's smile to highlight his superficiality: "It was one of those rare smiles, a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life" (Fitzgerald 48). Gatsby's parties are characterized by rumors and gossip, revealing that he is known and idolized solely for his wealth and not his character or achievements. The novel highlights how the social status of a person

The recurring motif of the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg overlooking the Valley of Ashes symbolizes this. The eyes are described as "blue and gigantic" (Fitzgerald 23) and are believed to represent a higher power, perhaps God or moral conscience. However, the characters in the novel are depicted as selfish and apathetic, with no regard for others. This is in stark contrast to the American Dream, which is supposed to be about becoming a better person, not just a wealthier