The Great Gatsby

1. The Great Gatsby Symbolism

2. Symbolism in the Great Gatsby • Daisy - money, wealth and class • The green light- Hope and dreams • The cars- money and carelessness (of the drivers) • Eyes of T.J Eckleburg- the eyes of god • Daisy turns out the light- end of her and Gatsby

3. Daisy • “Her voice is full of money” said by Gatsby in chapter 7- links to Daisy symbolising wealth and the theme of class, status and wealth. • “She vanishes into her rich house, into her rich, full life, leaving Gatsby – nothing.” said by Gatsby in chapter 8 page 142 - links to Daisy symbolising wealth and the theme of class, status and wealth. • “Daisy, gleaming like silver, safe and proud above the hot struggles of the poor.” said by Gatsby chapter 8 page 142- links to Daisy symbolising wealth and the theme of class, status and wealth.

4. The Green Light • “Nothing except a single green light, minute and far away” End of chapter one pg. 25. • “Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever.” – Nick talking about Gatsby pg. 90. • “I though of Gatsby’s wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock” Page 171 • “ Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us.” – Nick talking about Gatsby. The green light Symbolises Dreams and hope of Gatsby and links to the theme of dreams and reality.

5. Gatsby’s Books. • “Absolutely real – have pages and everything. I thought they’d be a nice durable cardboard. Matter of fact they’re absolutely real.” chapter 3, pg 47 • “It’s a bona-fide piece of printed matter. It fooled me. This fella is a regular belaso. It’s a triumph. What thoroughness. What realism!” chapter 3, pg 47 • “Knew when to stop, too – didn’t cut the pages” Symbolises Gatsby’s thoroughness in trying to fit and links to the theme of secrets and lies.

6. Cars • “On weekends his Rolls-Royce became an omnibus, bearing parties to from the city” • “While his station wagon scampered like a brisk yellow bug to meet all trains.” Chapter 3 pg 41. This shows Gatsby’s wealth as it was unusual in those days to even have one car! • The scene at Gatsby’s party where Owl Eyes crashes the car shows the carelessness of the people at that time. • “No, but the car passed me down the road, going faster’n forty. Going fifty, sixty.’ Chapter 7 page 133 • “The ‘death car’”

7. The Eyes of Doctor. T.J. Eckleburg • “The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic – their retinas are one yard high. They look out of no face,” • “But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.” • “God knows what you’ve been doing, everything you’ve been doing. You may fool me, but you can’t fool God!” • “he was looking at the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg , which had just emerged, pale and enormous, from the dissolving night.” • The eyes symbolise God, and links to the theme of dreams and reality (because its not real!)

8. Daisy turns out the light • “ ‘Nothing happened,’ he said wanly. ‘ I waited, and about four o’clock she came to the window and stood there for a minute and turned out the light.’” Chapter 8 page140 • Symbolic of the end of Gatsby and Daisy. And links to the theme of dreams and reality.

9. Extra • The clock - that Gatsby wants to turn back time • Wolfshiem’s cufflinks made of teeth- death, crime, dirty dealings, shenanigans