What Does The Car Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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Brayden Horvath Mr. Dean Literary Explorations II 10 May 2023 This Is A Good Title The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, is largely considered to be one of the best novels to come out of the 20th century. The work in the book portrays the moral rot and emptiness of the post-war civilization and of the American dream. The book is set during the Jazz Age in the middle of the American Prohibition period. Throughout the book, Fitzgerald uses a number of symbols, like the green light, the valley of ashes, and Doctor T. J. Eckleburg's eyes, to help portray the themes and messages of his book. One of the story's most recognizable symbols is Gatsby's vehicle, which appears frequently and is essential to the plot. Gatsby's vehicle …show more content…

Gatsby’s car “was a rich cream color, bright with nickel, swollen here and there in its monstrous length with triumphant hatboxes and supper-boxes and tool-boxes, and terraced with a labyrinth of windshields that mirrored a dozen suns,” (Fitzgerlad 69). The car is mentioned to be bright with nickel, reflecting Gatsby’s new money status and his flashy display of wealth. The car is also described as having “many layers of glass in a sort of green leather conservatory,” (Fitzgerald 69). The green leather interior, echoes the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock that represents Gatsby’s dream of winning her back. Gatsby uses his car to show off his success and to try to win Daisy’s admiration. He takes her on a tour of his mansion and shows her his possessions, including his car, hoping to impress her with his lavish lifestyle. He also drives his car to the city with Daisy, Tom, and Nick, where he confronts Tom about his affair with Myrtle. However, Gatsby’s car also symbolizes the danger and tragedy that his pursuit of Daisy brings. The misleading information about his car ends up killing him, representing both Gatsby’s love for Daisy and his downfall because of