The Motif Of Water On Jay Gatsby - 1898 Words

The Motif of Water on Jay Gatsby: A Boat Pushed Back Against the Current In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the motif of water is prevalent throughout the entirety of the story, seen frequently when Jay Gatsby, a prominent character, is present. Gatsby is a rich man who lives on the same island in New York as the main character Nick Carraway, who has just moved from the West in order to pursue a career in bonds. His cousin, Daisy, lives across the bay from the houses of Nick and Gatsby with her husband Tom, a former schoolmate of Nick. Nick becomes close to Gatsby over the course of the summer, as well as Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy’s. Gatsby contacts him through her and she also tells Nick about Gatsby’s past and later Gatsby explains that he was once in love with Daisy when they both lived in Kentucky and wants to be with her again. Through Nick, Gatsby and Daisy meet and fall in love again, while at the same time Tom has an affair with a woman from the city, Myrtle. One day, Tom, Nick, Daisy, Gatsby, and Jordan drive to New York and Tom discovers that Gatsby and Daisy have an affair. Distressed, Gatsby and Daisy leave in Tom’s car and on the way back Daisy runs over Tom’s mistress, killing her. Eventually Myrtle’s husband discovers through Tom that it was Gatsby who killed her and goes to seek revenge. Gatsby is killed by Myrtle’s husband while lounging in his pool that was about to be drained, signaling the end of the novel. In The Great Gatsby, the authorShow MoreRelatedsparknotes vs cliffnotes830 Words   |  4 Pagesthe character and his motives. In analyzing Jay Gatsby, Cliffnotes focuses much more on Gatsby himself and his underlying motives to his character, like â€Å"In assessing Gatsby, one must examine his blind pursuit of Daisy.† (Cliffnotes). Sparknotes focuses not only on the overall character of Jay Gatsby, but also analyzes how his character compares with other characters, and how his character relates to the author. Some of examples of Sparknotes on Gatsby are, â€Å"Fitzgerald uses this technique of delayedRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of his lifeRead MoreA Streetcar Named Desire Analysis918 Words   |  4 Pagesmost renowned artworks. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby and Tennessee Williams’, A Streetcar Named Desire, the characterization of both Jay Gatsby and Blanche DuBois, the use of symbolism and motifs, as well as the characters’ downfall, contributes to the development of the theme of being stuck in the past. While Jay Gatsby wishes to recreate the past, Blanche DuBois unsuccessfully tries to forget her own. In, The Great Gatsby, it becomes apparent to readers that Gatsbys behavior is relativeRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1609 Words   |  7 PagesFitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the degeneration of society and people during that time due to their immaculate wealth and their glamorous lives is captured perfectly. The entire book seems to revolve around one major theme: the decline of the American dream and the perfect society that supposedly came with it. This is set apart from the other themes in the book because instead of being mentioned directly, it is hinted at by means of oratorical words and phrases. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald successfullyRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1619 Words   |  7 Pagesmachine that is â€Å"social class† and â€Å"social standing† is a motif seen all throughout American literature with no absence from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. Although at times overshadowed by the blatant themes of love, hope, and loss, Fitzgerald addresses the concept of social mobility, social standing, and social precedent continuously throughout his novel beginning as early as the first chapter. However, what separates The Great Gatsby from other novels addressing the perceptions of socialRead MoreA Novel Outline of The Great Gatsby I. Bibliographic Information Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew1500 Words   |  6 PagesA Novel Outline of The Great Gatsby I. Bibliographic Information Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1996. Print. II. Character List Nick Carraway †¢ Narrator of the novel †¢ Moved to New York to learn the bond business †¢ Facilitates the romance between his cousin Daisy and his friend Gatsby †¢ Honest, Inclined to reserve judgment, unbiased Jay Gatsby †¢ Protagonist of the novel †¢ Changed his name from James Gatz when he devoted his life to becomingRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2198 Words   |  9 PagesIn the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald details of water and the bay are used to act as focal points in the rise, climax, and fall of Jay and Daisy’s relationship. Fitzgerald first mentions water at the exact same moment that he mentions Gatsby; by using a nautical metaphor to explain the story of Jay Gatsby, the author expresses the important role that water plays in the character’s life. When narrator first meets Jay Gatsby, Gatsby is looking out across the bay and extending hisRead MoreBroken Dreams and Fallen Themes: the Corruption of the American Dream in the Great Gatsby1477 Words   |  6 Pagesand Fallen Themes In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs the use of characters, themes, and symbolism to convey the idea of the American Dream and its corruption through the aspects of wealth, family, and status. In regards to wealth and success, Fitzgerald makes clear the growing corruption of the American Dream by using Gatsby himself as a symbol for the corrupted dream throughout the text. In addition, when portraying the family the characters in Great Gatsby are used to expose the corruptionRead More Corruption of the American Dream in the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1438 Words   |  6 Pagesand Fallen Themes In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald employs the use of characters, themes, and symbolism to convey the idea of the American Dream and its corruption through the aspects of wealth, family, and status. In regards to wealth and success, Fitzgerald makes clear the growing corruption of the American Dream by using Gatsby himself as a symbol for the corrupted dream throughout the text. In addition, when portraying the family the characters in Great Gatsby are used to expose the corruptionRead MoreThe American Dream1823 Words   |  8 Pageshimself an expert on the latest crazes in fashion, contemporary lingo, and popular pastimes.† (Marchand) This description shows material success as the model for the American Dream. In his novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald reveals the characterization of his characters through the use of symbols and motifs to emphasize the corruption of the American Dream. The eyes of T J Eckleburg represent the loss of moral and social values in America, the hollowness of the American Dream, and the corruption of people