Gatsby

Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is, at first sight, a novel about love, idealism and disillusionment. However, it soon reveals its hidden depths and mystery. The American dream, since it has existed, has represented the ideal hopes, dreams, and happiness that society has demanded as the only acceptable way of life. The book makes the character Gatsby a symbol of that dream: a symbol that goes up in smoke. Through the use of symbolism, the author greatly enhances his portrayal of the real American society. One such symbol the author uses is the ash heap as a symbol of the corruption that spreads and consumes humanity’s dreams and passions. This ash heap is really a garbage dump located just outside of New York City. Occasionally, “ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud which screens their obscure operation from your sight” (Pg. 17). It is quite obvious that Fitzgerald is trying to convey the fact that real life is nothing like the American dream makes it out to be. Through his use of dark figurative language, the author is showing us the gloom side of the truth, whether the dream, dreams, american, gatsby, daisy, symbols, light, great, symbolism, symbol, life, green, characters, author, without, pg, parties, novel, meaning, love, just, fitzgerald, eyes, even, book, about, world, way, through, though, success, standard, something, society, sight