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What Does The Gold Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

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English 11

Gatsby Essay

Throughout The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates symbolism through color to paint pictures within the novel. In the backdrop of the roaring 20’s, a time of care-free extravagance and a new age of culture, lives one Jay Gatsby, “The Great Gatsby.” In reality, Gatsby is a poor man living a life of fantasy and corruption all for a “golden girl,” although no matter how rich he is, he is never able reach his dream, and dies tragically at the end of the summer. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses gold and silver to portray wealth as it corresponds with this obsession for prosperity and the pursuit of the American Dream, as well as his preoccupation with Daisy as a symbol of affluence and beauty. …show more content…
One rainy afternoon while waiting for Daisy and Gatsby to come over for tea (unbeknownst to Daisy), Nick says, “The flowers were unnecessary, for at two o'clock a greenhouse arrived from Gatsby's, with innumerable receptacles to contain it. An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby in a white flannel suit, silver shirt and gold-colored tie hurried in. He was pale and there were dark signs of sleeplessness beneath his eyes” (84). Jay is making great strides to impress Daisy. He is doing everything he can to show her how wealthy he is and how lavish he lives. The poetic devices here really show just how extravagant this array of flowers is by referring to it as a “greenhouse,” giving the image that the entire house is filled with flowers. Not only that, but all of these flowers are brought in by Jay’s excessive amount of butlers. Everything Gatsby says and does ostentatious. His house is said to be “colossal,” and he throws these over the top parties filled with strangers, with the hopes that Daisy would wander in one night. Jay’s clothing shows a lot about his wealth and aspirations. The gold tie and silver shirt are flashy and exemplify wealth. Similarly, the fact that wears all white conveys that money is no object and that he is above the social norm, …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald and a character from one of his novels, and provides the reader with visions of opulence and beauty. Fitzgerald’s inscription says, “Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her; If you can bounce high, bounce for her too, Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover, I must have you!" (Epigraph). In the beginning of the epigraph, Fitzgerald is giving advice to the reader. “Then wear” indicates that he is suggesting that the reader wear the gold hat. This “gold hat” refers to wealth, but could also literally represent a crown. In relating to the novel, Fitzgerald is (most-likely) talking to Gatsby, if anyone in particular, and the “she” is probably Daisy. With that in mind, Fitzgerald is trying to tell Jay to wear this gold hat to try and impress Daisy, hoping it will cultivate her. Bouncing high corresponds to Gatsby’s obsession with becoming wealthy and rich, with which Fitzgerald is encouraging Gatsby to do in order to reclaim Daisy’s love. The last line of the poem shows just how Gatsby feels about Daisy, because she is something he must have! This poem even suggests that Daisy is more of an object or a prize to Jay. His life is incomplete without Daisy, especially because his lavish appearance and lifestyle are all in an attempt to get her

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