30th June 2017

1.1 Practice Essay- symbol

Describe at least one important object in the written text.
Explain why that object was important.

 

 

Symbol Idea Example
Green Light Symbolises Gatsby’s hopes and dreams to be with Daisy. “… -he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way… Involuntarily I glanced seaward- and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.”

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter -tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…”

Eyes Symbolises the window to the soul and reveals what is beneath one’s illusion. “… And their impersonal eyes in the absence of all desire”

“Her frightened eyes told that whatever intentions, whatever courage, she had had, were definitely gone.”

Water Symbolises the past intruding hopes for the present and future. “If it wasn’t for the mist we could see your home across the bay.”

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

“The light at the end of the tunnel is not an illusion, the tunnel is.” In the famous American novel, “The Great Gatsby” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, explores the upper class life of seven characters one 1920’s summer, following Nick Carraway as he is thrust into a new world, with rambunctious revelries and relationship rivalries, a world that he cannot belong. Fitzgerald uses several symbol throughout this novel, three of which I will explore, the green light, eyes and water all of which signifying the idea of illusion. Through this analysis I will explain how these symbols helped represent that dreaming of a “perfect” person to love is merely an illusion.

Throughout the novel, the green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams and how this is an illusion.           The green light is an important symbol associated with Gatsby’s character representing the status of his and Daisy’s romantic relationship. Despite it representing Daisy(by being located near the dock of her house) being just across the bay, as the novel carries on it is learnt that this green light is merely an illusion, being further away then it seems being separated from Gatsby because of West and East egg’s divide. The light centers around what Gatsby’s hopes and dreams of being with Daisy is in reality, from how minute, faraway (because of the bay) and that he tries to catch it despite the light being just an illusion.

Join the conversation! 1 Comment

  1. Watch your sentence construction- make sure your sentences are complete and do not drag out too long. Don’t try to say too much in each sentence. Remember- this is an essay, your vocabulary should be academic and to the point.

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"Writing gives you freedom to create your own world, your rules, your characters and your imagination"

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