Michael Valderrama Hodgins AM Studies Block A 12/5/16 Gatsby’s Mansion Symbolism is the use of symbols to supply things with a representative meaning or to represent something abstract by using an existing object. Gatsby’s mansion is a symbol of himself, his love for Daisy, and a representation of the 1920s. James Gatz, the small town boy from North Dakota, dreamed of obtaining his American Dream. He perceived the American Dream as a way to obtain wealth and status in order to win the hand of the love of his life Daisy. This led him to create a platonic version of himself, idealizing Daisy, and his future. In order to create this version of himself he created Gatsby, the suave playboy, millionaire, and gentlemen. He lets his wealth be his image. On the outside he was a grand ostentatious figure with copious amounts of wealth and alcohol. But on the inside he was an insecure man with an unrealistic perception of the world around him. This can also be said for Gatsby’s Mansion. The house, like Gatsby changes. At different points it is described as "blazing with light...lit from tower to cellar" (p. 81) to being totally dark at the beginning of chapter seven. The house doesn't represent Gatsby's personality, it is the idea of getting Daisy to come back to him and to fit in with the times and the crowd on Long …show more content…
T.J. Eckleburg illustrates the 1920’s and Gatsby’s mansion beautifully as he compares Gatsby’s mansion to a house of cards, one blow from caving in. He stated “that if one brick was removed the whole library was liable to collapse.” (50). Ultimately, the inevitable collapse occurs, as Gatsby loses Daisy and dies. The culture of the wealthy Americans represented in The Great Gatsby (and 1920’s) was defined mainly by consumerism and excessive material wealth. With this unhealthy life style and foundation, the society just like a house of cards caved in by 1929 with the Great