Gatsby

Gatsby Symbolizing the American Dream F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby examines the 1920s vision of the American dream. It shows how the American dream is corrupted by wealth and power. Gatsby is a firm believer in the American dream of self-made success. He has achieved this dream, but he also has a dream of being with Daisy. Gatsby is successful, but his success is through new money. There is a difference between old money and new money. The people with old money give no respect to the people with the new money. This is shown by Tom calling Gatsby’s car a “circus wagon” (128). The social flaw of being new money imprisoned Gatsby on an emotional island. The novel uses a major literary theme to show hidden meaning. The technique of symbolism is included into the novel. The author uses symbolism by showing how the American dream can be corrupted by wealthy people with little or no morals. Fitzgerald incorporates three symbols to prove this; they are the green light at the end of the Buchanan’s dock, the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, and the valley of gatsby, dream, daisy, over, gatsby’s, american, nick, light, green, eyes, people, novel, money, god, wealth, valley, new, death, characters, ashes, wilson, tom, told, represents, place, morals, life, just, hope, great, end, corrupted, being, wasteland, society