During the beginning of fall, Gatsby wants to swim although he had not swam all summer, before the leaves begin to fall. "I'm going to drain the pool today, Mr. Gatsby. Leaves will start falling pretty soon, and then there's always trouble with the pipes" (Fitzgerald 199). In reality, the leaves falling down and clogging up the drain symbolizes Tom coming in and ruin Gatsby's chance to win the love of his life back. The seasons in this novel is also a technique of symbolism Fitzgerald uses in his