Symbolism and major themes in The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby is full of symbols which occur throughout the novel in order to develop and understand its major themes. Written in the 1920’s, Fitzgerald’s novel evaluates and examines Gatsby’s vision of the American dream. One of the major themes in the novel is the nature of this “American Dream,” a fictitious belief that if we become rich we will be successful and happy. Symbols that help to comprehend theme include the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg, the green light, and grand houses. These are a just a few of the predominant symbols which occur throughout the novel.

The green light is a multi-faceted piece of symbolism in the novel which is able to interpret many themes including that Gatsby’s love for Daisy (also known as the “American Dream”), has blinded him to all other things in turn causing his death. Nick first sees Gatsby with his arms outstretched toward “a single green light minute and far away that might have been the end of...