Symbol
Pool:
The pool symbolizes Gatsby's dream of luxury, which he never fully realizes -- neither in social status nor in his relationship with Daisy. The old rich never fully accept him into their society, and Daisy never leaves Tom. He tries to retrieve some of the dream in the end, when goes to the pool for the last time before it is drained. The blue color of the water in the pool also represents illusion in color imagery. At the beginning of the chapter, Gatsby's gardener asks him if he should drain the pool because "leaves will start falling pretty soon, and then there 's always trouble with pipes."(Page. 153) and Gatsby replies with"don't do it today, you know, old sport, I've never used that pool all summer?" These conversation suggests that Gatsby never actually realized his dream to capture Daisy or the world she represents. It shows though that in the end he is still trapped in his illusion.
Fallen Leaves:
The leaves near the pool symbolize the downfall of Gatsby’s live. When the gardener tells Gatsby that the “leaves will start falling pretty soon(153)” it reminds us of fall, a time of decay. At the end of the chapter, after Gatsby is shot, “the touch of a cluster of leaves revolved it [ the rubber mattress with Gatsby’s body on it] slowly, tracing, like the leg of transit, a thin red circle in the water. ” which represent the end of Gatsby's live.
The Eye of Doctor T.J. Eckleberg:
When George tells Michaelis about his wife -- ”she might be able to fool me but she couldn’t fool god. ”(159) Michaelis while listening is surprised when he realizes that he is looking at the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg in a poster across the road as if they were the eyes of God. The eyes thus symbolize the realization of the loss of spiritual values and moralities in America. The eyes watch over the corrupt materialism and infidelity of the characters, doing "nothing about it". The eye suggest the emptiness of American Dream.It produces wealth only for some people (Like Gatsby), while the majority of people, just live in a dream. The blue color of the paster is also a color imagery that represents god.
The pool symbolizes Gatsby's dream of luxury, which he never fully realizes -- neither in social status nor in his relationship with Daisy. The old rich never fully accept him into their society, and Daisy never leaves Tom. He tries to retrieve some of the dream in the end, when goes to the pool for the last time before it is drained. The blue color of the water in the pool also represents illusion in color imagery. At the beginning of the chapter, Gatsby's gardener asks him if he should drain the pool because "leaves will start falling pretty soon, and then there 's always trouble with pipes."(Page. 153) and Gatsby replies with"don't do it today, you know, old sport, I've never used that pool all summer?" These conversation suggests that Gatsby never actually realized his dream to capture Daisy or the world she represents. It shows though that in the end he is still trapped in his illusion.
Fallen Leaves:
The leaves near the pool symbolize the downfall of Gatsby’s live. When the gardener tells Gatsby that the “leaves will start falling pretty soon(153)” it reminds us of fall, a time of decay. At the end of the chapter, after Gatsby is shot, “the touch of a cluster of leaves revolved it [ the rubber mattress with Gatsby’s body on it] slowly, tracing, like the leg of transit, a thin red circle in the water. ” which represent the end of Gatsby's live.
The Eye of Doctor T.J. Eckleberg:
When George tells Michaelis about his wife -- ”she might be able to fool me but she couldn’t fool god. ”(159) Michaelis while listening is surprised when he realizes that he is looking at the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg in a poster across the road as if they were the eyes of God. The eyes thus symbolize the realization of the loss of spiritual values and moralities in America. The eyes watch over the corrupt materialism and infidelity of the characters, doing "nothing about it". The eye suggest the emptiness of American Dream.It produces wealth only for some people (Like Gatsby), while the majority of people, just live in a dream. The blue color of the paster is also a color imagery that represents god.
Sighting
George Wilson on his way to look for the yellow car:
“The boys who had seen a man ‘act sort of Crazy’, and motorists at whom he stared oddly from the side of the road.” and also the police said that George “had a way of finding out,”supposed that he spent that time going from garage to garage, inquiring after a yellow car.”(160) These sightings help readers get a better idea oft how eager George Wilson is to find the killer of his wife. He had walked for so long, that he was tired, but persistent. This reflects his true love.
“The boys who had seen a man ‘act sort of Crazy’, and motorists at whom he stared oddly from the side of the road.” and also the police said that George “had a way of finding out,”supposed that he spent that time going from garage to garage, inquiring after a yellow car.”(160) These sightings help readers get a better idea oft how eager George Wilson is to find the killer of his wife. He had walked for so long, that he was tired, but persistent. This reflects his true love.
Imagery
- "We push aside curtains that were like pavilions, and felt over innumerable feet of dark wall for electric light switches---- once i tumbled with a sort of splash upon the keys of a ghostly piano. There was an inexplicable amount of dust everywhere, and the rooms were musty, as though they had not been aired for many days." (Page147)
This is Nick's description of Gatsby's unfulfilled dream as he enters Gatsby's mansion . Nick talks about the musty air, and the "ghostly piano" -- these are the hidden corners that he had never seen before he finally discovered the "mystery " of Gatsby: It not "vibrant " but full of ghostly illusions. It represents Nick seeing into Gatsby's dream which never fully came alive. The "ghostly" piano reminds us of the parties that simply ended and a life that could not be lived. These represent Gatsby's empty american dream.
- In contrast, when Gatsby first went to Daisy's house in Louisville, "There was a ripe mystery about it, a hint go bedrooms upstairs more beautiful and cool than other bedrooms, of gay and radiant activities taking place through its corridors, and of romances that were not musty." (Page.147)
Gatsby's description of Daisy's bedroom is such a contrast with Gatsby's room as Nick's. Her room is beautiful and not musty, which means her world is not hidden but in a live situation. Her american dream is alive, and it is a mystery to Gatsby, as it represents those dreams he yearns for.
This is Nick's description of Gatsby's unfulfilled dream as he enters Gatsby's mansion . Nick talks about the musty air, and the "ghostly piano" -- these are the hidden corners that he had never seen before he finally discovered the "mystery " of Gatsby: It not "vibrant " but full of ghostly illusions. It represents Nick seeing into Gatsby's dream which never fully came alive. The "ghostly" piano reminds us of the parties that simply ended and a life that could not be lived. These represent Gatsby's empty american dream.
- In contrast, when Gatsby first went to Daisy's house in Louisville, "There was a ripe mystery about it, a hint go bedrooms upstairs more beautiful and cool than other bedrooms, of gay and radiant activities taking place through its corridors, and of romances that were not musty." (Page.147)
Gatsby's description of Daisy's bedroom is such a contrast with Gatsby's room as Nick's. Her room is beautiful and not musty, which means her world is not hidden but in a live situation. Her american dream is alive, and it is a mystery to Gatsby, as it represents those dreams he yearns for.