Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

By lucy.white1 | Updated: July 25, 2020, 2:36 p.m.

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Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
The Green Light
The green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolises Gatsby's undying hope for Daisy. It's positioning demonstrates that his love for her is just out of reach. 
In chapter 5 when they reconnect, this is a turning point as the light loses its meaning. For a long time, Daisy hasn't been human to Gatsby - she has been a symbol of his dreams, and he now has her physically with him.
The symbolism of the green light is used by Fitzgerald to reinforce one of the novel’s key themes: Gatsby’s impossible dream.
Now that Gatsby is with Daisy in person, he is slowly beginning to realise that the vision he created of her in his head is not sustainable. And therefore, the green light loses its significance. He can no longer gaze at that light and dream of what could be. His dream has become a reality but, unfortunately for Gatsby, his relationship with Daisy has fallen short of his expectations. 
Daisy + The Green Light
Water
When Nick first sees Gatsby, he has his arms outstretched to the water. Water becomes an increasingly important symbol through the novel, especially in Gatsby's final scene.
What other ways do we see water being symbolic throughout the novel?
Daisy and Gatsby are physically separated by a barrier of water, between their houses. It also separates the characters from NYC and immigrants from America.
 A BARRIER
When the couple are reunited, Gatsby is soaked through with rain.
The Yacht
When we find out about Gatsby's background, we find out that his life changed when he rescued Dan Cody from a sinking yacht. In this sense, the water symbolised he was being reborn into his new life full of wealth. He even adopts a new identity.
Death Scene/Swimming Pool
Gatsby dies in his pool which, until now, has remained unused. It is a symbol of his wealth and also represents that Gatsby’s aspiration to great wealth is part of his downfall. 
The water between Gatsby’s house and Daisy’s house represents the divide between ‘old’ and ‘new’ money. Meeting his death in the water signifies that Gatsby, despite his best intentions, can never bridge that gap between them
The water gives a cyclical quality to Gatsby's life. His reputation and wealth was made in the water with Dan Cody, and now it ends in the water.
The idea of the American dream is that anyone, regardless of who they are or what their background is, can achieve greatness. However, Gatsby’s death serves to remind us that we are “little ripples” in the large pool of America.
CLOCKS
Time is an important theme in the novel – especially in terms of past and present. Gatsby desperately tries to reclaim the love that he once shared with Daisy but he is unable to alter his vision to include the changes that both he and Daisy have gone through in the five years that have passed
Gatsby has a ‘defunct’ vision of time that is represented by the clock in Nick’s house. 
“Luckily the clock took this moment to tilt dangerously at the pressure of his head, whereupon he turned and caught it with trembling fingers, and set it back in place.” (p 84) 
Gatsby’s nervousness about how Daisy’s attitude to him may have changed causes him to knock over Nick’s clock. This symbolises the clumsiness of his attempts to stop time and retrieve the past.
Weather
When Daisy and Gatsby meet, the weather reflects the mood (pathetic fallacy). The rain adds an atmosphere of sadness and reflection to the scene. Later the sun comes out, which shows how much brighter things seem for the couple.
Gatsby's Car
Gatsby's car is a symbol of flamboyant wealth. It is bright, big and modern.

This reinforces the fact that Gatsby wants to be noticed.
The Valley of Ashes
It is a place of poverty that is a dumping ground for all the waste produced by the city. It is an ugly by-product of CONSUMERISM forgotten by the wealthy Egg communities. Symbolically it represents the moral and social decay that results from the pursuit of wealth and riches. The rich indulge themselves with no regard for anything but their own pleasure. Its bleak and barren nature provides a contrast to the loudness and brightness of NYC and the beautiful exterior of the two Eggs. The residents of the Eggs don’t care – T. J. Eckleburg’s advertisement looks out indifferently at the desolation. 
The Eyes of T.J Eckleburg
Literally this advertisement is a realistic detail of a culture of consumerism found in 1920s America. Wilson sees the old optician’s advert as the eyes of God. Fitzgerald could be suggesting that society needs its vision correcting in order to see its faults. The faded paint of the eyes further symbolises the extent to which this society has lost its connection with God – the sign is looking over the Valley of Ashes just like God. This links with the theme of vision.

Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

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