Symbolism In The Great Gatsby

What is the real story behind The Great Gatsby? The Great Gatsby is a book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920’s, it features the imbalances of life in the roaring 20’s and how it affected the wealthy. The Great Gatsby symbolizes love throughout the book. It highlights many different relationships, however a key relationship that isn’t read into as much is between Gatsby and Nick. Whether this is because the book was published so long ago or because people see this relationship at face value is besides the point. There is more to how Nick feels about Gatsby than we see, this idea is shown through symbolism, imagery, point-of-view, and statements made by characters.
Fitzgerald uses symbolism heavily throughout the book. This is very evident in relation to love. He leaves many different symbols that show Gatsby’s love for Daisy, but these same symbols can

The light is evidently a symbol of Gatby’s hope for the future and for Daisy. It also shows Nick’s attentiveness towards Gatsby’s feelings; “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald Ch. 9). Nick stating this directly shows that he had thought about how Gatsby felt about the green light, even after his death. Nick knowing so much about the green light and what it meant to Gatsby presents the idea that Nick feels more for Gatsby than a simple friendship. Nick on his own sees the greenlight as “eyes-a fresh, green breast of the new world” which signifies the American dream, and the demand to be successful (Fitzgerald Ch. 5). However, Nick empathizes so greatly with Gatsby that he realizes what the light could possibly mean to Gatsby, in reference to not only Daisy, but also Gatsby’s desire to be successful. This empathy calls attention to the care that Nick has for Gatsby, and what he thinks or feels. In the end, the greenlight, which was meant as a symbol for Gatsby’s hope, shows Nick's compassion towards