The Great Gatsby: Language

Language in The Great Gatsby:

Symbolism:

“Gatsby believed in the green light”: The green light symbolises Gatsby’s dreams and hopes, especially regarding Daisy. The unreachable nature of this light reflects the unattainable nature of these dreams.
“The Valley of Ashes”: The Valley is symbolic of the spiritual and moral decay that results from the unchecked pursuit of wealth. It’s also representative of the discarded elements of society, with people and dreams discarded just like waste.
“Dr. T. J. Eckleburg’s eyes”: These are significant because they are always watching from the large billboard, representing how characters are always under scrutiny. Some interpret them as God’s eyes, symbolising the moral consequence of the characters’ action.

Metaphor:

“Her voice is full of money”: This is a powerful metaphor that signifies how Gatsby equates his love for Daisy with his pursuit of wealth and status.
“This is a valley of ashes”: Fitzgerald uses this metaphor to reflect the moral decay hidden beneath the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties.

Imagery:

“Gatsby’s mansion…a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy…“: This rich description of Gatsby’s house brings to mind the opulence and extravagance that defines Gatsby’s life, emphasizing his nouveau riche status.
“Myrtle’s intense vitality” and “Tom’s sturdy physical presence”: These opposing pieces of imagery depict the contrast between Myrtle and Daisy, as well as Gatsby and Tom, pointing out the differences in their social status and personal values.

Irony:

Gatsby’s death in his pool: Fitzgerald utilizes irony in the death of the great Gatsby. Despite his wealth and excessive lifestyle, he dies alone, mostly un-mourned except by Nick, in the pool he rarely used.
The irony of name ‘Great Gatsby’: Despite all of his wealth and events, Gatsby is essentially a man living in the past, chasing after a fleeting dream. Hence, Fitzgerald uses irony in his characterization of Gatsby as ‘great’.

Personification:

“The sun had gone…“: The sun is a recurring symbol in the novel, usually associated with Gatsby’s hopeful optimism. Its descent or fading often reflects Gatsby’s diminishing hopes.
“Gatsby’s gorgeous car lurched up the rocky drive”: The personification underlines the conspicuous opulence and excess that Gatsby represents, but also emphasizes his somewhat clumsy and misguided attempts at winning Daisy’s heart.

Use of Repetition:

“So we beat on, boats against the current…“: The repetition of images of the water and the current highlights the dangers of living in the past and shows that Gatsby’s dream of reliving the past was futile. This also emphasizes the challenging force of social division.