Imagery, Sightings, Point of imagery |
Relevant Quotes"Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalk really formed a ladder mounted to a secret place above the trees - he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder" (118).
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DescriptionThe ladder symbolizes success, and the reach to the American Dream; that the American Dream is possible as long as people are willing to climb the ladder of success. This quote states that Gatsby can only climb the ladder alone if he wants to have all the wonderful things that he could ever dream of. He must choose between love and success. However, he tries to achieve both but ends in destruction later on.
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"A few days earlier he took him to the Dultah and bought him a blue coat..." (106)
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Blue symbolizes illusion. It also, in this particular matter would symbolized ultimate bliss. Jay Gatsby's blue coat that Dan Cody bought for him represents James Gatz created persona of Jay Gatsby, which provides an illusion to other people who do not know about his past. When James Gatz decides to join Dan Cody and leave his identity behind, entering the world of wealth and glamour, he is entering the world that he sees for himself as very blissful and where he would want to be part of in the future.
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"... a gorgeous, scarcely human orchid of a woman who sat in a state under a white plum tree." (111)
"They were still under the white plum tree and their faces were touching...he had been very slowly bending toward her all evening to attain this proximity...I saw him stoop one ultimate degree and kiss her at the cheek." (114) |
The white colour of the plum tree represents purity and innocence. The fact that the women was sitting under the white plum tree gave the impression that she was a woman of purity and innocence just as the colour suggests.
However, this statement is contradicted when a man, the woman's director, and the woman face touch, meaning they were very close to each other. The man ended up kissing her on the cheek as well, and this gives the impression that the woman is not as pure and innocent as she seems, as she did not try to distance herself from the man. The rich society in this book may appear pure and innocent , but in reality, they are not. This is a great example of appearance vs. reality. |
"...that yacht represented all the beauty and glamour in the world" (106).
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Dan Cody's yacht was James Gatz door or mode of transportation to a new world or a more glamour lifestyle. Upon seeing Dan Cody's yacht and rowing out to warn Cody about the upcoming storm, James Gatz throws away his identity and starts his process of rebirth as Jay Gatsby. While following Cody as his assistant on his yacht, travelling to different places, Jay Gatsby is created.
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"...and if you want to take down my addresses here's my little gold pencil" (112)
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The colours of gold and/or yellow symbolizes wealth, or more specifically "old money." Daisy acquired plenty of "old money" and the respecting status when she married Tom Buchanan. In giving the gold pencil to Tom, Daisy perhaps wanted to look more sophisticated than she actually was, and show people she was from old money.
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