Symbols and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays

Symbolism in The Great Gatsby What is unknown is often talked about as being mysterious, perhaps even ominous. Naturally, many plenty become meddlesome and want to find out what lurks about in the dark and be able to say that they know what others do not. In F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel, The Great Gatsby, the briny character, Jay Gatsby is quite enigmatic. Seclusion and isolation are well known to Gatsby, curiously when it comes to his personal life and his history. Throughout the novel, except when with Nick or Daisy, Gatsby asserts himself as an observer, who would rather watch others than to join in with the crowd. The silhouette of a wretched cat wavered across the moonlight, and turning my head to watch it, I maxim that I was not unsocial--fifty feet away a figure had emerged from the shadow of my neighbors planetary house with his hands in his pockets . . . (p. 21) Being the absolute mystery that he is, Gatsby is this silhouette of a moving cat, and lives his life this way. As this quote shows, Gatsby emerges from the shadow to come apart himself to Nick (who is angiotensin-converting enzyme of a rattling few amount of people that he confides in with the truth of who he really is). Whether Gatsby is throwing extravagant parties in his own home or with a small group of people, who he is remains a secret. Gatsby is constantly encompassed by darkness and secrecy When Gatsby threw his colossal parties, he was rarely seen amongst his guests and was most often altogether, observing them. Gatsby, standing alone on the marble steps and looking from one group to another.(p. 50) The one time that Gatsby is noticed talking to his guests is when he introduced himself to Nick and started a dialogue with him. Yet, most of the time that he throws these parties at his own home, he is alone and does not socialize with the people who attend. Trying to understand Gatsby is a very difficult thing to do, because there is so much to grasp. Entering into the hu rrying class of wealthy people, Gatsby not only held onto a secret past, notwithstanding also had the hidden agenda of trying to get Daisy back, whom he had locomote in love with while in the war.