Important symbols in the novel and their functions

  • The green light on the dock :

    • Gatsby stretching his arms towards the green light
    • Nick only sees the green light when Gatsby tries to reach it (mysterious)
    • At the beginning, the green light symbolizes Gatsby's dreams, hopes and desires to reunite with Daisy. However, the symbolic meaning is removed from it, it collapses
    • Gatsby's dream is revealed to be unreachable (he cannot reach the green light, only stretches out to it)
    • Gatsby's dream is dashed : it stops being something that is his alone (American Dream)
    • The color green is associated with wealth / money, valley of ashes
  • The valley of ashes :

    • Desolated land created by dumping ashes
    • Loss of vitality, depression
    • Figurative prison of poor social class
    • Stands for the forgotten poor underclass who enables the lifestyle of the wealthy few
    • Place of hopelessness and of giving up : those who cannot connive their way to the top are left behind to stagnate
  • The Occulist's Board (eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg) :

    • Personification : blue eyes, yellow glasses
    • Foreshadows the tragic events to happen
    • Always watching : eyes of God
    • Symbolizes the corruption of America's people : eyes stare down at main characters, Tom and his affair, Gatsby when he drives with Nick to meet Wolfshiem, ...
    • Hollowness of the American Dream : looks down at the valley of ashes, the dream is one bid lie, not everyone can be rich