Symbolism Of Smile In The Great Gatsby

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In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s smile as a symbol of the ambiguity and duplicity his character inspires. This Quote from Nick at the first of Gatsby’s lavish parties that he attends is one of the first bits of real characterization that we see of Gatsby. His smile encapsulates the extravagance of the party as well as the thoughtfulness that he seems to exude. Nick seems to be one of the only guests that had been hand-picked by Gatsby, leaving Nick with the feeling that there is nobody more important in the world, and Gatsby’s smile does just that. Before Nick can even bask in the smile vanishes, and he becomes just “an elegant young rough neck, a year or two over thirty.”(48). After this initial feeling of awe and comfort,