Symbolism in Literature

• Sometimes, there’s more to literature than meets the eye….– Characters– Items– Colors–Names

Symbolism and The Great Gatsby

• Just as characterization, dialogue, and plot work on the surface to move the story along, symbolism works under the surface to tie the story's external action to a universal theme.

Symbolism Continued…• The mere sight of a skull and crossbones figure and you

know that there is something that you are being warned against.

• Roses and images of hearts have become synonymous with love.

• Different colors have come to symbolize different emotions, for example purple for royalty, green for envy and red for passion or anger.

• Symbolism in literature has been a writing method of choice for many authors and writers due to the allowance of subtlety that this literary device enables you with.

Characters as Symbols• Authors sometimes create characters who

represent societal influences– Ex. The Wicked Witch represents the evil that

exists in society– Ex. Glenda the good witch symbolizes the

benevolent side of society

• Characters can also represent ideas, prejudices, beliefs, etc.

Colors as Symbols• The color “green” is normally associated

with jealousy; however, it can also represent money/wealth. Ex. Green eyed monster– Shakespeare made up in Othello

• The color white is most often used to represent purity or goodness whereas darker colors such as black or gray symbolize wickedness or evil

Places as Symbols

• Water/rivers are often used to symbolize a cleansing or freedom

• Hollywood is a known symbol for wealth and fame

It’s time for you to decide,

Old Sport…

So what do the people, places, and items in the novel we are about to read actually represent?

Symbols in The Great Gatsby

• Green Light- Visible from Gatsby’s mansion~ Not going to tell you what this symbolizes…. You have to figure this out on your own.

Symbols in The Great Gatsby

• The Valley of Ashes- the area between West Egg and New York City. It is a desolate area filled with industrial waste.

• Interesting… what could this symbolize????

Symbols in The Great Gatsby

• The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg- A decaying billboard in the Valley of Ashes with eyes advertising an optometrist. There are multiple proposed meanings, I wonder what they are….

Symbols in The Great Gatsby

• East and West Egg- The two major settings of the novel act as a physical symbol. The barrier that the water creates between these worlds is symbolic of the barrier that keeps these people apart from one another and from much of what they want.

Topics in The Great Gatsby (which you will make into themes…)

• Marriage and Infidelity• Love• Society and Class • Wealth • Isolation • Gender• Dissatisfaction

• Lies and Truth • Relationships• American Dream• Compassion and

Forgiveness• Culture Clash • Carelessness and

Selfishness

Characters of The Great Gatsby

• Jay Gatsby- The self-made wealthy man who lives next door to Nick Carraway and loves Daisy Buchanan

Characters of The Great Gatsby

• Nick Carraway- the narrator, Daisy’s cousin, and Gatsby’s neighbor

Characters in The Great Gatsby

• Daisy Buchanan- married to Tom, Gatsby’s love interest before the war, socialite

Other Characters in The Great Gatsby

• Tom Buchanan- Daisy’s husband, has an affair with Myrtle

• Myrtle Wilson- Tom’s woman in the city, married to George

• George Wilson- owns the gas station• Jordan Baker- Daisy’s friend, professional

golfer

Settings in The Great Gatsby

• West Egg- where Nick and Gatsby live, represents new money

• East Egg- where Daisy & Tom live, the more fashionable area, represents old money

Settings in The Great Gatsby

• The City- New York City, where the characters escape to for work and play

• The Valley of Ashes- between the City and West Egg, where Wilson’s

gas station is

Important Quotes

• “I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”Daisy’s description of her daughter

• “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” –the last line of the novel

Important Quotes

• "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." – Nick’s description of Tom and Daisy