Scott Fitzgerald's Use Of Symbolism In The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the greatest American authors during the Jazz Age. In
1925, he wrote a novel depicting the betrayal of values that occurred during the 1920s, titled T he Great Gatsby. F itzgerald uses a variety of symbolism, “...the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense,” (“Symbolism”). He employs it throughout the story in order to portray the demoralization that occurred in America during the roaring twenties . The various symbols used by the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, guides the reader into understanding the betrayal that occurs between first loves and other characters who were once good friends.
One of the most notable uses of symbolism

An example of a conventional symbol would be when Gatsby threw his wild parties. By doing so, he was hoping to catch Daisy’s attention and she would attend. However, other people enjoyed it more than she did. Gatsby lives in West Egg village where people who come from new money live. His parties represented the lifestyles of people in the 1920s. One of the girls at the party stated”...I never care what I do, so I always have a good time...”(Fitzgerald p.43). Whenever Gatsby dies at the end of the novel the betrayal of Daisy is shown whenever no one but Nick and reporters showed up to his funeral. In chapter nine Nick states, ”I could only remember without, resentment, that Daisy hadn’t sent a message or a flower,”(Fitzgerald

S c o t t F i t z g e r a l d , u s e s s y m b o l i s m t o guide readers’ understanding of the betrayal of values that occurred throughout America during the 1920s. Although Fitzgerald uses a variety of symbols throughout the novel, there are two that seem to stand out the most. First, he uses the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock to represent Gatsby’s desire to repeat the past and relive his life with Daisy, because he looks for the light every night. Furthermore, the use of the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg is an important symbol. Fitzgerald’s use of the eyes represents the eyes of God overseeing betrayal between Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby; as well as the demoralization displayed by many Americans in the twenties. Finally, the novel portrays other uses of symbolism in order to aid the reader in understanding life in the 1920s. Some of the other symbols include the use of the hot weather to depict the climax and end of Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship, while Gatsby’s parties