Gatsby associates it with Daisy, and in Chapter 1 he reaches toward it in the darkness as a guiding light to lead him to his goal. The color of the light could be symbolic of the envy that Gatsby has over Tom, who has Daisy, or it could represent the green of a figurative Garden of Eden in the past.Situated at the end of DaisyвЂ™s East Egg dock and barely visible from GatsbyвЂ™s West Egg lawn, the green light represents GatsbyвЂ™s hopes and dreams for the future. The green light symbolizes many things, principally, Gatsby's quest to obtain Daisy. West also touches on Nick's Midwestern roots, as distinct from the other characters, dividing him from their way of life. In a way, east and west divides the upper class in two, in a sort of rivalry. The division of East Egg from West Egg separates the newly rich from the historically wealthy families. It symbolizes the moral and social decay of America, portrayed through the working class. The Valley of Ashes is a barren wasteland that separates the Eggs from New York City. This portends the вЂњtumultuous argumentвЂќ which occurs between Tom and Gatsby in the Plaza Hotel. For example, in Chapter Seven, Nick describes a heat wave that has pushed temperatures to вЂњbroilingвЂќ. Throughout the novel, various types of weather are used to foreshadow important events. Weather is a common symbol in literature. These all-seeing eyes watch the characters in the novel and ultimately act as a judge of their deeds. Motifs and Symbols to Look for and Discuss Overlooking Eyes (Billboard of Dr. Tom, Myrtle, and Daisy all commit adultery Jordan Baker is a pathological liar and often cheats Gatsby lies about his past, and about his assets to obtain Daisy and those who once called Gatsby a friend, even Meyer Wolfshiem, his business partner, ultimately desert and disgrace him by not attending his funeral. Unfaithful and deceptive behavior can be seen from most characters over the course of the novel. Through the eyes of Nick, the reader can see that this is a sham, and those in the upper class are corrupt, deceitful, and carry no remorse for their actions.ДЄlthough usually confined to adultery, this can also mean a breach of trust and general disloyalty. It is expected that those in the upper class are to act with dignity, poise, grace, and propriety. It is expounded upon at some length by Nick Carroway. Social class is an integral part of the novel.

Due to her social class, Gatsby is forced to make a drastic decisions to reach a level of prosperity where he can capture Daisy's affections. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby's dream is to one day be with Daisy. The American dream is the idea that no matter a person's background, everyone can achieve their goals through hard work and determination. Themes to Look for and Discuss The American Dream Eckleburg, the Valley of Ashes, ominous weather, and the division of east vs. The most apparent are the green light, the overlooking eyes of Dr. In the example storyboard above, there are five archetypal symbols from the book. In the classroom, students can track the rich symbolism that Fitzgerald uses throughout the novel. For best practices, see our supplementary article with specific lesson plan steps on setting up your classroom and activities to teach themes, symbols, and motifs. Using a storyboard, students can visually demonstrate their understanding of these concepts, and master analysis of literary elements. However, abstract ideas are often difficult for students to analyze without assistance. Part of the Common Core ELA standards is to introduce and explain these complex concepts. Themes, symbols, and motifs are valuable aspects of any literary work, and they add richness to stories.

Symbols in the great gatsby smile