Symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby Essay Example for Free

Symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby Essay F. Scott Fitzgerald uses much symbolism in his literature, here in the novel The Great Gatsby. He uses the image of Doctor T. J. Eckelburgs eyes to symbolize a godlike being. Fitzgerald uses the symbol of the two women in yellow at Gatsbys party to represent the values of the 1920s. The food provided at Gatsbys party symbolically represents the members of 1920s society. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Symbolism in the novel The Great Gatsby as an accurate reflection of life in the American 1920s. In The Great Gatsby the symbol of T. J. Eckelburgs eyes represent a godly being watching over society. Fitzgerald incorporates the eyes into his novel to represent a pair of all seeing, all knowing and judging eyes, which are meant to intimidate. The character of George Wilson believes that the eyes are the eyes of God. I spoke to her, he muttered, after a long silence. I told her she might fool me but she couldnt fool God. I took her to the window- With an effort he got up and walked to the rear window and leaned his face pressed against it, -and I said God knows what youve been doing, everything youve been doing. You may fool me but you cant fool God! Standing behind him Michaelis saw with a shock that he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg, which had just emerged pale and enormous from the dissolving night. God sees everything, repeated Wilson. (p.167) Through Wilsons beliefs Fitzgerald explains that the eyes can see everything including Myrtlesinfidelities. Myrtle is a typical person of the 1920s. She has put her own life and interests ahead of everyone elses including her husbands. The eyes of God are frowning down on the 1920s society. But above the grey land and the spasms of bleak dust which drift endlessly over it, you perceive, after a moment, the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic-their retinas are one yard high. The look out of no face but, instead, from a pair of enormous yellow spectacles which pass over a non-existent nosehis eyes, dimmed a little by many painless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.(p.27-28) Through Fitzgeralds wording in describing the image of Eckleburgs eyes the reader develops a mental image of an omnipotent being who is constantly watching over the land. The reader discerns that the eyes not only see  everything but that they eyes are morbidly unhappy. The use of the word brood suggests that whatever the eyes are seeing has made their owner disappointed. This is Fitzgeralds way of indicating that the people of the 1920s are disgraceful and undignified because of their selfishness. People of the 1920s spent large sums of money on themselves, and they would attend parties where they didnt know the host. This type of behaviour is why the 1920s are known as a decadent era. The eyes not only symbolize a god-like being but also Fitzgerald himself and his negative views of 1920s society. Fitzgeralds negative views of society are also portrayed through his depiction of certain guests at Gatsbys parties. The symbol of the two women dressed identically in yellow at Gatsbys party depict the values of the people of the 20s. The two women in yellow meet Jordan and Nick at one of Gatsbys party and are entirely self involved. Do you come to these parties often? inquired Jordan of the girl beside her. The last one was the one I met you at, answered the girl in an alert, confident voice. She turned to her companion: Wasnt it for you Lucille? It was for Lucille too. I like to come, Lucille said I never care what I do, so I always have a good time. When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address- inside of a week I got a package from Croiriers with a new evening gown in it.(p.47) Lucille admits that her general attitude toward life is that she doesnt care what she does as long as she has a good time. Her entire motivation in her life is to enjoy herself. When all she was asked was if she came to the parties often she also felt the need to inform the rest of the guests of her trivial anecdote. The reason that these women are indicative of the generation is because of their self-absorbed character and their egotistical nature. Gatsby. Somebody told me- The two girls and Jordan leaned together confidentially. Somebody told me they thought he killed a man once. A thrill passed over all of us. The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly. I dont think its so much that, argued Lucille sceptically; Its more that he was a German spy during the war. One of the men nodded in confirmation. Oh know it couldnt be that because he was in the American army during the war.(p.48) The two women are spreading vicious rumours about their host purely for the sake of attention. They are so egotistical that they are  willing to tarnish the reputation of the man who has invited them into his house, simply on the basis that they want to be the centre of everyones attention. In Fitzgeralds opinion, people of the 20s were mainly made up of this type of person. The symbols of the food served at Gatsbys party represent and personify the people of the 20s. Gatsbys house frequently receives crates of oranges which demonstrates the wasteful character of people in the 1920s. Every Friday five crates of oranges and lemons arrived from a fruiterer in New York-every Monday these same oranges and lemons left his back door in a pyramid of pulpless halves. (p.45) This incredible wastefulness is representative of people who lived in the 1920s. They were wasteful to the extreme because they assumed that they deserved to be wasteful and carefree. After so many years of being unhappy from, among other things, World War I. During the war, they were forced to ration everything, so the twenties was the time to gain back their selfishness. Their personalities are also symbolised by the colossal food buffet served at the party. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors doeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys bewitched to a dark gold. (p.44) These symbols all personify the people of the 20s. The people garnished themselves in glistening jewels and clothing just to impress the people that they met. They are all spiced implying that they have made themselves into something that they are not by spicing up their lives with fancy clothing and costumes which hide who they really are. They design themselves as they think they will be most accepted, and are bewitched by the brightness and glow of popularity and richness. People of the twenties wore costumes and this is part of what Fitzgerald is trying to convey. In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the literary technique of symbolism to reflect what life in the 1920s was like, through Fitzgeralds eyes. The image of Doctor T. J. Eckelburgs eyes is used to signify a disappointed godlike being. Fitzgerald uses the two women in yellow at Gatsbys party to as a symbol to represent the values of people in the 20s. The food provided at Gatsbys party is symbolic of people who lived in the  20s. Through Fitzgeralds use of symbolism to describe the costumed characters of the 20s the reader can learn to constantly, and consistently examine the people that they surround themselves with. The novel also teaches the lesson of being true to ones self, since true closure may only come once honesty is achieved. Fitzgerald is not only a consequential author but an effective moral adviser as well. Bibliography: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Macmillan Publishing Company. New York. 1992.