Symbols and Characters in The Great Gatsby
Symbols in The Great Gatsby
The Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg
The Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg are a pair of eyes with glasses painted on a billboard. The eyes represent God looking down and judging American society as a moral desert.
The Valley of Ashes
First introduced in Chapter 2, the Valley of Ashes between West Egg and New York is a long strip of land created by the dumping of industrial ashes. It represents the moral and social decline. The Valley of Ashes also symbolizes the plight of the poor, like George Wilson, who live among the dirty ashes and lose their vitality as a result.
The Green Light
Located at the eastern end, the green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future, associated with Daisy. In Chapter 9, Nick compares the green light to how America, rising from the sea, must have looked to the first settlers of the new nation.
Characters in The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby
Jay Gatsby is one of the main characters of the novel. He is young, about 30 years old. He had a poor childhood in North Dakota. Since childhood, he wanted to be rich and is slowly achieving this by participating in organized crime (distribution of alcohol and stolen goods). He left the University of St. Olaf, which humiliated him by making him participate in cleanup duties as he had to pay tuition. His great love was Daisy. He met her when he was a young army officer in Louisville before the First World War in 1917. Daisy promised to wait, but she met and married Tom Buchanan in 1919. Tom attracted Daisy with his wealth; he had much cash. Later, Gatsby bought a home in West Egg, a mansion. He organized parties in his house at night. He did not attend his own parties, and people suspected he was involved in something shady; there were many rumors, all of them bad. From then on, Jay’s objective is to recover Daisy, and he does everything possible. Finally, George Wilson unjustly kills him.
Nick Carraway
Nick Carraway is young, lives in Minnesota. Nick travels to New York to learn the bond business. He lives in the district of West Egg, Long Island. He is Gatsby’s neighbor and Daisy’s cousin. Nick is the person who helps Jay and Daisy with their relationship. He is best suited to narrate the novel due to his temperament. Nick meets Gatsby at one of the parties, and Gatsby tries to befriend him to get closer to Daisy. Nick begins to trust Gatsby. Jordan Baker liked Nick. Nick is present on Gatsby’s last day, until his death. Nick realizes that the rich life they had was not right and decides to return.
Daisy Buchanan
Daisy Buchanan is young, beautiful, living in Louisville. She is a cousin of Nick Carraway. Her love is Jay Gatsby. She promises she will wait after the coming of war. But Daisy does not; Tom, a rich man, marries her. Later, Gatsby aims to recover Daisy’s love; Daisy was perfect for him. She is betrayed by her husband Tom, who is having an affair with Myrtle. Gatsby finally dies because of Daisy, since he assumes the blame for killing Myrtle.
Tom Buchanan
Tom Buchanan is rich and is Daisy’s husband. Tom is hypocritical, selfish, unfaithful, racist, and sexist. He deceives Daisy with Myrtle.
Jordan Baker
Jordan Baker is a young woman dedicated to golf. She knows Daisy and becomes friends with Nick. They maintain a relationship.
Myrtle Wilson
Myrtle Wilson is George Wilson’s wife. Myrtle deceives George with Tom. She is vivacious, desperately seeking a way to improve her situation. Unfortunately, she chooses Tom, who treats her as a sexual object.
George Wilson
George Wilson is Myrtle’s husband. He owns a dirty and old car repair shop in the Valley of Ashes. George was very fond of Myrtle, treated her well, and she in turn deceived him with another man (Tom). George is comparable to Gatsby because both are dreamers and are not reciprocated by the woman they love.