What Does The Clock Symbolize In The Great Gatsby

Great Gatsby Symbolism: Clock

Time is an ever­present, impermanent phenomenon created by and followed by humans.

In the novel The Great Gatsby, the symbol of the clock is used to remind the readers of the time that has passed between the two characters, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, and that time truly cannot be bought or rewound. The symbolism of the clock in the novel helps to show the reality of failure between the two lovers.

Focusing more closely on the clock, symbolism highlights the idea that time is represented in memory and that there is a gap between someone’s representation of the world and the world itself. In the novel it seems as though Gatsby is unaware that time moves forward, regardless of what happens, and that time cannot

This symbolism of the clock shows Gatsby’s attempt to pick up where he left off with Daisy and set everything back into place the way it was before the time passed. The fact that Fitzgerald mentioned Gatsby’s

“trembling fingers” showed Gatsby’s nervous excitement of the idea to rekindle his and Daisy’s past. It’s also important to note that the clock was already broken, “his head leaned back so far that it rested against the face of a defunct mantelpiece clock” (Fitzgerald 86). This is important because Fitzgerald is saying that the clock was broken before Gatsby had even gotten to Nick’s house and it would still be broken whether it did or did not fall to the ground. This symbolizes the idea that Daisy and Gatsby’s love was broken before they met up and Nick’s and even though, to them, it seems like they had “saved” their love, it was still broken.

The second idea highlighted by symbolism is the idea that “time is money.” After

Gatsby’s first encounter with Daisy when they were younger, he did everything in his power to become a good fit for her and her lifestyle. Five years had passed since they were in love and in those five years Gatsby served in the military, returned and became rich, and did everything