What Does The Nigger Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

To follow, symbols are used to convey the importance and meaning of objects throughout each novel. The symbols that the authors use are hints for the readers to see how important certain objects are to the characters and how they affect them. Fitzgerald uses alcohol as a symbol of negativity that has a strong impact on the book. “‘One of your own sojers got shoved out of the back window an’ killed hisself!’” (Fitzgerald, 101). Alcohol leads to nothing but bad actions throughout the entire novel. A man drunkenly killed himself, proving that alcohol is a symbol of negativity and death. This is satirical because the prohibition law was in place and shows how nobody obeyed the law. The entire story involved everybody drinking and partying

Connotations are included to make words more symbolic than its literal meaning. Twain uses the word “nigger” many times throughout his book not only because it was frequently used in that period, but to add meaning to the word. “”Sends the key to the punkin-headed nigger, and don't send nobody to watch the nigger.’” (Twain, 240). Twain repeatedly uses this word to satirize and stereotype the social norms in the age of slavery, making them seem as ridiculous as they were. Furthermore, the title of Fitzgerald’s book, May Day, is a connotation itself. “This was the morning after May Day, and celebration was still in the air” (Fitzgerald, 259). The term “May Day” represents more than just a holiday in the novel. It represents the maritime distress call which is used to signal an emergency, a spring rite which is a ceremony set in the spring, and the socialist labor holiday which honors workers. Fitzgerald uses this word to make readers conscious of the importance the words have, considering the setting of the book, which is after the first World War. This word is used to display satire because May Day is a holiday that celebrates workers, but ironically, street riots occurred during the novel when the distress signal mayday was applicable in the course of that situation. The work of the soldiers winning the first World War was not celebrated by the soldiers because they lived in poverty and were not respected. Continuously, the word “witches” is a connotation that is used by Twain to show how stories have a huge impact on the lives of slaves. “Jim said the witches bewitched him and put him in a trance (...) Niggers would come miles to hear Jim tell about it, and he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country” (Twain, 6). Jim’s story entertained all of the slaves, and they viewed him as a hero. This shows how the slaves did not have very exciting lives