The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

If wealth and personality translate to series of successful gestures, then Gatsby would conform to it. Gatsby is a character in the novel The Great Gatsby written by Fitzgerald Scott and he highlights the madness that some people have when they acquire wealth. Gatsby wants to please people in order to be happy. Everything that Gatsby has ranging from yellow car, pink suits to expensive items denotes his idealism persona. The character is iconic in propelling the plot and making the book a captivating read through his intriguing behavior. The author heavily used symbolism to bring out the true character of Gatsby. As such, Gatsby’s house mirrors a man who depicts to be happy, and leads a good life, but in reality, he is pledged by loneliness and emptiness, and he hides his real character in the material possessions.

Daisy is a beautiful woman and comes from a wealthy family. She grew up in a high social class and Nick, and Gatsby understands her worth. Gatsby has always longed to win daisy, and she takes her to his grand house to show daisy the wealth he has. In the house, Daisy admires the “feudal silhouette against the sky, gardens, the sparkling odor of jonquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn and plum blossoms and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate” (Fitzgerald 90). The statement implies the luxurious and lavish lifestyle that Gatsby lives. However, the blue tone of Gatsby’s garden reveals his loneliness as well as the melancholy embedded in his inner heart. The ”the sparkling odor of jonquils and the frothy odor of hawthorn” symbolizes the fragrant aroma of wealth that surrounds Gatsby’s mansion (Fitzgerald 90). Besides, the gold odor signifies richness. Plum blossom suggests the value of endurance and symbolizes how hope and beauty can come from hard times. The language used is intended to impress Daisy. Gatsby wants to show off his home and possessions. More importantly, the author intended to introduce the reader to the house set a wealthy atmosphere and portray Gatsby’s character. Gatsby intended to make Daisy feel the full effect of his property and the story evidence that Gatsby measures his wealth regarding the effect it has on Daisy.

From the description provided in the book, there is no doubt that Gatsby’s house is grandiose of dwelling. However, it is astonishing that there is nobody in the wealthy house. One would expect the house to be a lively place, but on the contrary, it is lonely. Gatsby confirms the loneliness when he mentions that ”I felt that there were guests concealed behind every coach and table” and the quote evokes a feeling breathless portraying the character’s lonely nature (Fitzgerald 87). Gatsby’s house reflects his life in that; it is luxurious, lucrative and fancy and yet he is lonely and empty. Gatsby is rich, and everything he has is admirable. Notably, the unfortunate reality of loneliness consumes him. The description denotes the hollowness and the purposeless life of the idle rich person. It is ironical that Gatsby is constantly surrounded by many people and yet he is one of the loneliest characters. The story reads that Gatsby spends his night ”standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another with approving eyes” (Fitzgerald 50). Nick mentions that ”a sudden emptiness seemed to flow from the windows and the great doors, endowing with complete isolation” (Fitzgerald 55). Gatsby devotes his entire life in winning Daisy but fails to accomplish as Daisy returns to Tom. Gatsby’s dream dies out. From the story, the owl-eyed man stands for an observer; somebody who has a clear sight and he is thus able to see Gatsby and understand who he really is. He fully empathizes with Gatsby, and his presence allows the reader vividly picture Gatsby’s personality. Owls are a symbol of wisdom, have great sight and thought to be intelligent. When the man laughs at Gatsby and his empty house, he makes the reader understand the loneliness found in the house. On the other hand, Mr. Klipspringer represents many people who take advantage of Gatsby’s generosity but do not take time to understanding his real life. They only care about his material wealth.

Gatsby meets Daisy; a woman from the upper class and beautiful, he becomes obsessed and his life revolves around her. Gatsby became obsessed with Daisy, and this motivated him to show her his wealthy in order to attract and impress Daisy. The story reveals that Gatsby ”hadn’t once ceased looking at Daisy, and I think he revalued everything in the house according to the measure of response it drew from her loved-eyes” (Fitzgerald 90). Gatsby seeks to attain wealth, status and power. Due to this, Gatsby losses his moral value as he gets involved in undesirable dealings with shady individuals who are termed to have illegal undertakings. The extent of his illegal activity is confirmed by Tom Buchanan when he says that Gatsby and ”Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores…and sold grain alcohol over the counter,” (Fitzgerald 133). The obsession he has with winning Daisy clouds his mind, and Gatsby suggest to daisy that she should leave her child and husband. Nick trusts that Gatsby will ”want nothing less of Daisy than that she should go to Tom and say: ‘I never loved you,’” (Fitzgerald 109). Gatsby thinks that Daisy will leave her family for his wealthy.

While touring Gatsby’s house, Nick notices that ”his bedroom is the simplest room of all“(Fitzgerald 91). The quote is emblematic and it demonstrates the true reflection of Gatsby. The lavish house reflects Gatsby’s flamboyant exterior persona. He leads this type of lifestyle in order to attract and get the approval of people like Daisy who are from the high social class. The lavish, luxurious house portrays an image that Gatsby conveys not only to Daisy but also to the entire world. However, when it comes to his room, it is the simplest of all as it is only seen by him and thus signifies his factual nature. It indicates the characters’ true internal personality without the wealth as the luxurious lifestyle is only a meant to please Daisy. The bedroom is part of the house that no one really gets to see. The quote further elucidates that ”His bedroom was the simplest of all – except where the dresser was garnished with a toilet set of pure dull gold” (Fitzgerald 97). The color of gold is normally associated with Gatsby ranging from his clothing and toiletries. Notably, gold is a prestigious and expensive substance, and this symbolizes luxury, precious and expensiveness. Gold represents the wealth Gatsby has obtained, and from Daisy’s reaction, she adores the rich items. Gatsby wears gold suits and forgets that he once wore a blue coat that Dan Cody, his mentor gave him.

Conclusion

Fitzgerald used symbolism to showcase the array characteristics of Gatsby. Gatsby has been central in the novel and symbolism plays a significant role in hinting to the reader Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy. His personality is established as an idealistic young man who is preoccupied with material wealth in order to please other people. However, the juxtaposition evident in his house denote that he lives a lonely and empty life.

Work Cited

Fitzgerald, F.Scott. The Great Gatsby. Penguin Books, 1950.