The Great Gatsby Quotations
1) “Gatsby turned out all right at the end, it is what preyed on Gatsby, what foul dust floated in the wake of his dreams that temporarily closed out my interest in the abortive sorrows and short-winded elations of men”
Importance: Although we don’t meet Gatsby until chapter 3, this quote allows us to know what Gatsby is like in chapter 1.
Symbolism: “Foul dust” symbolizes the valley of ashes that is in between the east egg and west egg. The land symbolizes as a land that creates nothing but dust and death. Gatsby’s death was hollow and meaningless, and ends with his own death.
Figurative Language: Juxtaposing is used in this quote, by contrasting that the two different eggs, are separated by a waste land, signifying that their two worlds are totally different.
2) “It takes two to make an accident”
Importance: This quote means that it takes two to cause something to go wrong. Jordan says this while driving. She believes that as long as someone else doesn’t do something that could cause an accident then nothing wrong could happen.
Symbolism: This quote is very significant in the book because Daisy hits Myrtle while she is recklessly driving, Although Gatsby takes the blame because it is his car, and he loves her.
Figurative Language: Foreshadowing is used in this. When Jordan says this it foreshadows on the accident of Daisy hitting Myrtle.
3) “Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face in impassioned voices whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy’s name.
“Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!” shouted Mrs. Wilson. “I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai-“ Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.
Importance: The importance of this quote is showing how the richer class people think that being snobs makes them “fancy”. It shows how the era this book was set in was a time much different then ours.
Symbolism: This shows