Monday, May 21, 2012

Journal 20 - Gatsby Conclusion


Read the novel’s last passage (beginning with, “Gatsby’s house was still empty when I left”) and discuss the use of imagery and symbolism that is being employed by Fitzgerald.  In your response, specifically address what Nick is saying about the green light and the connection that he is making between Gatsby and the Dutch sailors who “discovered” Long Island. 


            In the last paragraph of the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald had used multiple means of symbolism and imagery.  The first thing that he had started to describe was about Gatsby’s house.  Not only how the looks of it were, but how lonely it felt since Gatsby had passed.  An important part of this last passage was when he had mentioned the green light which had stood across the water at Daisy’s house.  There was also the reference made to the Dutch sailor’s.  What the interpretation of this reference might mean is that when Nick was lying on the beach, he had started to block out all the other houses that surrounded the area in the distance in front of him.  By doing so, he was able to recognize all the things that were there when apparently the sailors had discovered that same area that Nick was admiring.  

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