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How Does Fitzgerald Use Symbols In The Great Gatsby

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Symbolism can easily be unnoticed or too complex for the average reader because they often hold a deeper meaning and require deeper thought. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald shines symbolism throughout. Characters throughout The Great Gatsby buy love and affection through money. This becomes apparent when Nick moves to the rich district of West Egg and meets a guy named Gatsby. Upon getting to know Gatsby he learns that Gatsby has built his whole life around building a so-called fancy lifestyle all to impress a girl named Daisy. With the idea of love, many conflicts happen. These characters are far from perfect. God sees every action and hears every voice, nothing is overlooked by him. Fitzgerald's use of the oculists sign and the owl-eyed man hold a much deeper meaning and contribute to the theme tremendously. …show more content…

J. Eckleburg's eyes are presented on a billboard. It's purpose is to watch over the town just like God watches over it. The oculists sign sees everything that is suppose to go unseen. These set of eyes have seen the man who fixed the World Series, Daisy crashing into Myrtle with a car and Tom meeting up with his mistress. Therefore the characters that proposed these actions lost part of their spiritual values. The oculists signs true meaning is revealed towards the end of the novel. "'God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me but you can't 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." (167) God picks out the smallest things and nothing can sneak past him. If God wouldn't approve, people shouldn't be pursuing those actions for others to

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