Symbols
- Gatsby's Parties/Mansion
- Gatsby's parties and mansion represents the theme of appearance vs. reality. Even though Gatsby may seem to be rich, he is still only considered a "new" rich and so he struggles to fit in with the society surrounding him. Therefore, he throws a party every Saturday, and this might also be the reason why there are so many uninvited guests that, with no consequences, crash the party. Even though many people experience the artificial pleasure, this extravagance does not ultimately lead to happiness.
- West Egg vs. East Egg
- The "new" rich vs. the "old" rich. This symbol enhances another sub-category within the amount of power a person can possess. In class, we've discussed how rich, white, famed men rise above everyone else; however, with this, we are introduced another level that makes an impact on how much power a person can have.
- The Party Invitation
- Even though Nick is a neighbour of Gatsby, he hasn't been invited to any of his parties until chapter 3. As he moves from being a spectator to being a participant, he as a narrator is able to provide an informed view of not only what goes on at the parties, but also what the partygoers themselves are like. When Nick reveals that he is probably one of the few invited guests to the party, it reveals quite a lot; especially that Nick is not just a normal participant and that even though he is Gatsby's neighbour, he has not succumbed to crashing one of his parties. This could reflect on his being one of the few honest people that he has ever known or could also reflect on his change from being a spectator from far away into being more active within the story.
- The Owl-eyed Man
- He is comparable to the billboard of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg with the "all-seeing eyes". Both symbolize an uninvolved spectator of god. They watch all the activities of the humans struggling below, but don't comment on them or try to correct wrongs or lessen burdens. Even though owl-eyes makes a comment on Gatsby's real books, he still provides Nick with no advice or significant knowledge about Gatsby.
- Gatsby's Library of Uncut Books
- We perceive Gatsby and his parties an illusion as owl-eyes suggests that Gatsby's life is merely a show and that his books can be just a cardboard cutout. This belief compares to the era of the Great Gatsby when people would lavish themselves with goods and although may appear to afford it, go into bust and in reality, cannot spend that kind of money.