Gatsby's Vision Of The American Dream example essay topic

F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby is full of symbols which occur throughout the novel in order to develop and understand its major themes. Written in the 1920's, Fitzgerald's novel evaluates and examines Gatsby's vision of the American dream. One of the major themes in the novel is the nature of this "American Dream", a fictitious belief that if we become rich we will be successful and happy. Symbols that help to comprehend theme include the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg, the green light, and grand houses. These are a just a few of the predominant symbols which occur throughout the novel. The green light is a multi-faceted piece of symbolism in the novel which is able to interpret many themes including that Gatsby's love for Daisy (also known as the "American Dream"), has blinded him to all other things in turn causing his death.

Nick first sees Gatsby with his arms outstretched toward "a single green light minute and far away that might have been the end of a dock". This quote enables the reader to see that Nick first perceives it as just a green light at the end of a dock while to Gatsby it is much more. To him it represents his longing for money, success, acceptance and of course Daisy. Although after Daisy and Gatsby had reunited, the green light was concealed by a mist, visibly affecting Gatsby, and Nick quotes, "Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever... Now it was again a green light on a dock.

His count of enchanted objects had diminished one by one". This image suggests to the reader that Gatsby may be beginning to see that his quest for Daisy is being misted and is making him blind. All of Gatsby's hopes and dreams had rested on this one single green light which is a direct metaphor for his longings for Daisy. She proves herself not to be the fulfilment of his dream, but as elusive and uncertain as the flickering green glow barely visible across the water. The Eyes of T. J Eckleburg are not so focused on Gatsby or his quest for Daisy but depicts that the characters are being watched and judged. In the novel they are located on a billboard advertisement in the valley of ashes that looks over Wilson's garage.

The eyes look over the situation, without prejudice, but offer a kind of judgement on the characters and their actions. They are placed near Wilson's because that is where some of the most terrible acts take place, including the death of Myrtle and Tom's affair. Wilson refers to the billboard as God, which is portrayed in the quote spoken to Myrtle. "God knows what you " ve been doing, everything you " ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can't fool God!" The major theme that arises from the symbol of the eyes of T. J Eckleburg is that the characters seem to have no fear of consequence or judgement from the egocentric acts that take place.

All of these crimes go unpunished, so the eyes look on and remind the characters of the guilt that they forgot to have when their crimes took place. A grand house such a Gatsby's often represents wealth and a high class status, which to many of the characters is one of the most important aspects of their American dream. In following his 'American dream', Gatsby moves into the mansion across the bay from Daisy, and has extravagant parties to gain popularity in order to impress her. Not all are impressed by Gatsby's grand house as Owl eyes compares Gatsby's mansion to a house of cards, complaining "that if one brick was removed the whole library was liable to collapse". This quote is therefore a very good metaphor in comparison to Gatsby's life or his 'American Dream' as one of his bricks in the form of Daisy had been removed, and his life collapses into a heap resulting in his inevitable death.

As Gatsby's house is a major reason for his death Nick refers to his mansion as "that huge incoherent failure of a house". This is also reflected in a major theme that arose from this symbol; that Gatsby and many of the other characters are deceived into feeling that they will only achieve their 'American dreams' if they have all the wealthy materialistic things such as grand houses. The 1920's novel The Great Gatsby is one of the all time 'classic' American novels. While The Great Gatsby is representative of a particular time which seems long ago, it is by no means an "historical novel" as many of its issues or themes are still relevant in today's society. Themes such as these may include 'love can make you blind', 'money has a corruptive effect' and 'people don't fear the consequences of their actions. ' The reader is able to perceive these themes through the use of meaningful symbols such as the green light, the eyes of TJ Eckleburg and grand houses.

These symbols and themes all relate in some way to the main topic of the novel 'The American Dream. ' Many of the characters are disillusioned with the 'American Dream' as their dreams are often fantasies, founded on romantic or materialistic ideals. These ideals are easily crushed by the harsh realities that often blind them even though they are reminded about the consequences. Gatsby's one main hope for the future was actually just part of an unattainable past.