How Does Fitzgerald Use Weather In The Great Gatsby
Motifs are defined as: “a recurrent image, idea, or symbol that develops or explains a theme” (Motif - Examples and Definition of Motif). This literary devise enhances the plot and character development, imagery, and theme identification in literature. For these reasons, extraordinary writers, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, pepper their works with motifs. The Great Gatsby is no exception. Throughout the course of the novel, numerous motifs are used, such as: weather, color, geography, and money. However, one of the most prominent and well used motifs (in my opinion) is the one pertaining to weather. The way it is used has specific meaning in relation to characters and events, and progresses over the course of the novel. Symbolic usage of weather …show more content…
Gatsby, of course, is flooded with emotions, on account of him not seeing the love of his life for “Five years next November” (Fitzgerald, 92). Therefore, the weather reflects the emotions of Gatsby and suggests at the events about to occur; “The day agreed upon was pouring rain” (Fitzgerald, 88). When Daisy arrives, Nick opens his front door to find Gatsby outside “standing in a puddle of water” (Fitzgerald, 91). Gatsby drenched from the rain is meant to symbolize him being drenched in his insecurities, and anxiety. The reunion between Gatsby and Daisy is extremely tense and uncomfortable, during which the rain continues. However, the moment their love is rekindled, “the sun shone again” (Fitzgerald, 93). This sudden and drastic change in weather shows that the weather was directly tied to Gatsby’s emotions and the meeting with …show more content…
In chapter nine, Gatsby’s funeral occurs. On the day of Gatsby’s funeral, “the sky had turned dark… in a drizzle” (Fitzgerald, 180). This creates a gloomy, depressed mood, that is tied with the death of Gatsby. The rainy dark weather is a direct representation of the emotions of the (few) people who were close to Gatsby. This is shown when Gatsby’s servant “spoke of the rain in a worried and uncertain way” (Fitzgerald, 182). However, the servant is worriedly speaking of an uncertain future; uncertain due to the death of Gatsby. The rain shows the grief of the characters, and the gloominess of a world with Jay
Significance Of The Past In The Great Gatsby
1044 Words | 5 PagesOn the day that Gatsby has chosen to reconnect with Daisy, his lover from many years in the past, it is “pouring rain,” and, during Gatsby and Daisy’s awkward interaction, “once more it was pouring.” (Fitzgerald 83, Fitzgerald 88). When a liquid “pour[s],” it is falling as a result of gravity and rain represents an atmosphere of hopeless melancholy. Here, Fitzgerald uses watery weather to demonstrate how Gatsby is falling back toward the past just as rain falls to the ground. However, when it becomes less awkward, Gatsby notices that “It’s stopped raining” and “twinkle-bells of sunshine” enter the room (Fitzgerald 89).
Examples Of Syntax In The Great Gatsby
203 Words | 1 PagesAdmired Author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his renown novel, The Great Gatsby, emphasizes the emotional state of Nick after the passing of his close friend. Fitzgerald’s main purpose is to reveal the gloomy, final thoughts that still linger in Nick’s mind about the demise of Gatsby and his elaborate lifestyle. His strong use of imagery creates a heartrending attitude in Nick which grasps on to the mind of the readers. Fitzgerald presents the paragraph by using various types of syntax to contrast the past thoughts of Gatsby and his house from the melancholy truth of the present. Fitzgerald has Nick illustrate the great memories he had at Gatsby's house when describing his saturday nights in New York by the “gleaming, dazzling parties” that were
What Does The Valley Of Ashes Symbolize In The Great Gatsby
851 Words | 4 PagesGatsby becomes drenched, and the way Nick describes him standing in the rain hints at his demise later in the story when he says, Gatsby looked as ‘pale as death… standing in a puddle of water’ (p.86). And although this particular part is not melancholy, it forebodes the tragic events that occur in the end. In addition to that when, ‘Gatsby shouldered the mattress and started for the pool’ it suggests yet another salient incident. Water also symbolizes birth. The persona of Jay Gatsby was ultimately born in water.
Examples Of Weather In The Great Gatsby
644 Words | 3 PagesFitzgerald employs the motif of weather and the seasons throughout The Great Gatsby to help shape and convey the themes presented in the novel. He accomplishes this in many ways such as through the weather of rain and the fall season. Gatsby had asked Nick to invite Daisy to Nick’s house for tea because Gatsby was scared that Daisy would refuse to see him. On the day that Daisy came over, it “was pouring rain” (Fitzgerald 83). The rain can represent a sign that something bad will happen.
Theme Of Lonliness In The Great Gatsby
114 Words | 1 PagesFitzgerald uses the weather and environment in chapter three to emphasize the setting and its relation to the characters. New York can be compared to one of Gatsby’s parties, full of people and full of loneliness; “At the enchanted metropolitan twilight I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt in others…” (Fitzgerald 56). Loneliness is also shown when Gatsby is seen standing alone at his own party. This sense of loneliness is illustrated in the Yellow Wallpaper because the narrator is a mysterious person that nobody knows the truth about; similar to Gatsby.
Relationships In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
674 Words | 3 PagesFitzgerald shapes Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship with words describing the way they look at each other “possessed with intense life.” The use of words such as “possessed” and “intense” characterize the love that Gatsby and Daisy share, that is not evident between Tom and Myrtle. While Fitzgerald does not use words such as “possessed”
Comparing Parties And Funeral In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald
791 Words | 4 PagesNick, the narrator, describes Gatsby’s parties by telling the reader “By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums” (Fitzgerald 40). This is just a small detail about how Gatsby only gets the very best for his parties. At Gatsby’s funeral, “our procession of three cars reached the cemetery and stopped in a thick drizzle beside the gate- first a motor hearse, horribly black and wet…” (Fitzgerald 174). The funeral is on a rainy day and is muddy and not very inviting.
The Symbolism Of Motifs In 'The River King'
739 Words | 3 PagesMotifs are narrative elements with symbolic significance that connect back to a theme. Motifs are often used to help the reader understand a character or to reinforce a theme. Alice Hoffman uses the motif of swans in her novel, The River King to symbolize that when humans try to push love away, it will always come back to them. First of all, when Hoffman is explaining Betsy’s role in the book, she mentions, “...
How Does Fitzgerald Use Weather In The Great Gatsby
1354 Words | 6 PagesThis shows as the murmur in the house gets softer, the rain begins to wither. The weather changing represents Daisy and Gatsby warming up to each other. It's the start of something better. After hard times have passed or something has been overcome, good comes from that. In addition, rain is also the end of something good.
How Does Fitzgerald Present His Life In The Great Gatsby
442 Words | 2 PagesPeople tend to leave a little of themselves in everything they do, it’s called passion. This passion makes all the noteworthy accolades of authors even more inspiring. In “The Great Gatsby” Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald draws parallels of his life through his characters and setting. Fitzgerald’s life contained struggling relationships, alcoholism, and fame, which is all reflected through his character, Jay Gatsby. Marriage for Fitzgerald was a challenging goal to obtain, as is Gatsby’s goal to wed Daisy.
How Does Fitzgerald Use Weather In The Great Gatsby
1147 Words | 5 PagesDuring this particular example, Daisy and Gatsby reunite for the first time in five years. As the scene unfolds, we notice there is a significant change in the weather that’s interchangeable with Gatsby’s mood and his overall feelings. When Gatsby has his first interactions with Daisy, he’s understandably nervous, embarrassed, and a bit sad that it’s been so long since he’s seen the woman he loves. While he’s feeling these strong and steady emotions, the rain is also coming down strong and steadily, enough to cause large puddles in Nick’s
The Great Gatsby Weather Essay
683 Words | 3 PagesFrom day one of Nick Carraway’s arrival, to the tragic ending of the Gatsby story, the weather continues to play a big part in predicting what’s to come. While reading, the weather might seem to be of little importance, but looking back, it’s hard to miss its meaning. The weather in The Great Gatsby, foreshadows character behaviors and gives insight on certain events and people in the novel. Fitzgerald uses the theme of weather through a combination of temperature and wind, rain storms, and hot summer days all while intertwining it into the character’s lives.
Significance Of The Weather In The Great Gatsby
797 Words | 4 PagesWeather Representing Emotions Normally weather and emotions are not associated, but throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald makes multiple references comparing the feelings of Jay Gatsby to the weather outside. He uses rain to represent the times of sadness or awkward situations. When those moods uplifted the clouds would break, and the sun would shine. Other times he would use heat to represent times of anger, or tension.
The Weather In Frankenstein
445 Words | 2 PagesMary Shelley took this element and incorporated it to give it a new meaning, this gave the story more deep thought and emotions to arise. The dark thunders and bright lightning flashes foreshadowed the future character development of Victor, giving him that spark of his love of science. The weather provoked thought, and revolutionized future stories to invoke on providing a new way to give a story more meaning. Future books demonstrate the way a seemingly unconventional element can play into a story, a story that emits this is the Great Gatsby. In the book Gatsby and Daisy’s reconciliations begins with pouring rain, proving awkward and sorrow; their love rekindles just as the sun begins to come out.
American Dream In The Great Gatsby And Richard Cory
899 Words | 4 PagesNevertheless, Gatsby is discontent and is till trying to reach for something in his life, “he stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling” (Fitzgerald 25-26). When a person is trembling, it is a physical representation of gloominess in the heart. Gatsby is trembling because he is reaching for Daisy, a person he misses even though he had all the luxury in the world. Afterwards, Gatsby finally reunites with Daisy and feels the joyfulness he has been missing, “He literally glowed; without a word or a gesture of exultation a new being radiated from him and filled the little room” (Fitzgerald 94).
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