Motif Of Cars In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Analytical Essay
F. Scott Fitzgerald presents many themes in his novel, The Great Gatsby. One theme that is seen in the novel is society and class. Society and class can be represented in the novel by the motif of cars. The motif of cars (e.g. taxis, limousines, trains) shows us the different values that each character holds and how people in the novel also see each other. Throughout the novel, the characters travel around using cars, so these cars may reflect on a person’s class and how society perceives them.
The first mention of the link between cars and the theme of society and class can be seen where
Gatsby’s Rolls Royce “became an omnibus, bearing parties to and from the city between nine in the morning and long past

Therefore this shows how the rich were well known and were wealthy as well, so this attracted people towards them and increased their status.

Alexander 2
Moreover, another reference that links cars to society and class can be seen where other characters comment about Gatsby’s car. For example we can see that Nick talks about Gatsby’s car and says Gatsby’s car “was a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hat-boxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of wind-shields that mirrored a dozen suns” (Fitzgerald 64). The color cream may also indicate the color yellow, which other characters say the car is throughout the novel.
The fact that Gatsby’s car is yellow may indicate that he is engrossed with the obsession of displaying his material wealth. Words such as “monstrous” and labyrinth” shows how intricate and extravagant the car looks. He may have brought the car to show off his wealth to Daisy.
During this time period, the car was seen as a symbol of status. Gatsby’s car was an embodiment of his wealth. This shows how Gatsby wanted to show off his wealth to try and get attention