The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1248 Words

In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, symbolism plays a major role in the continuation of the plot. Symbolism in this novel uncovers emotional backstories of the main characters, shows why the characters make the choices they do, and the difference of the meaning of certain objects in the novel. Although there are many different symbols in The Great Gatsby, the ones that stick out the most are the green light, the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg, and the Valley of Ashes. Each symbol can have many different meanings, depending on what character and what situation in which the symbol is being presented. The green light that is located at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock, directly across bay from Jay Gatsby’s house. The green light is first†¦show more content†¦Another meaning of the symbol, the green light, is at the end of the novel. This scene is when George Wilson shows up at Gatsby’s house, the day after the death of Myrtle Wilson. George Wilson believed that Gatsby was the one that killed Myrtle by running her over. George Wilson shoots Gatsby, and then shoots himself. Before Gatsby dies and falls into the pool he stares at the green light on the end of the dock. In Jay Gatsby’s final moments, the green light now represents a future that he will not live to see or experience. He knows he will no longer have a possible future will Daisy, or any future at all. The second major symbol is T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes that are on a billboard located over the Valley of Ashes. The first possible meaning to this symbol is that T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes represent the hollowness to the American Dream. The eyes watch everyone that is going through the Valley of Ashes, in order to get to the city to achieve the American Dream. The idea of the American Dream is one giant lie, most people who think they can live the American Dream are just dreaming. Most people that set out to accomplish the American dream do not succeed. They are le ft with their dreams turning to ashes, while some people actually do succeed, leaving them in weath. The other meaning that T.J. Eckleburg’s eyes could represent is the eyes are actually the eyes