Symbolism In The Great Gatsby

From sex, liquor, and drugs, to power, wealth, and fame, the American Dream has been obsessed over since 1776. For years, the idea of success and the American Dream itself has been altered and accustomed to everybody’s own ideas and desires. The most common interpretation of the American Dream is that anybody from any social class, religion, race, ethnicity, culture, creed, or any other background can obtain large quantities of wealth if they work harder than somebody else. Although in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is expressed differently. The characters in the story all have very different personalities which helps to show all of the different dreams that people fantasize about. The dreams, including fame, wealth,

One symbol is Gatsby’s yellow car. It was Gatsby’s car that had hit Myrtle. Nick recalled, “‘I got to West Egg by a side road, “ he went on, ‘and left the car in my garage. I don’t think anybody saw us, but of course I can’t be sure.’” (Fitzgerald 143). His car is a symbol of Gatsby’s American Dream. In the beginning of the story, it is running well and in pristine condition, although near the end as Gatsby’s dream is falling apart his car kills somebody and is dented, then hidden from the world. The life of the car is a slight summary and comparison to that of an individual obsessed with their American Dream, if an individual is not to careful, it will all fall apart. Another symbol is the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. For years Gatsby had connected that light with his love with Daisy and the chase to get her back. Nick had just had dinner with his cousin, coincidentally it is Daisy, when he comes home and looks toward Gatsby’s dock. Nick narrates, “I could have sworn he wa trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far way, that might have been the end of a dock.” (Fitzgerald 21). Throughout the story that green light is always on, and Gatsby would often look at it because it reminded him of Daisy. However, when he finally started achieving his dream of getting Daisy, the light disappeared. In conclusion, symbols are a very effective tool used by Fitzgerald to constantly keep the idea of the American Dream