Theme Of Seeing In The Great Gatsby

In the book, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald hints on the idea of seeing and not seeing. This idea of seeing plays out in many ways in this book. Some characters are able to see what is about to come. Other characters hid that they can see, they cover it up with ignoring to actions required of the problem. Then the main characters are unable to see what will play out and instead of fixing the obvious problem that is right in front of them. What is the reason for F. Scott Fitzgerald to show certain characteristics of being blind or non-seeing? How does this apply to modern day today? Good questions, The Great Gatsby is good at displaying what people were like in the ninety twenties, but are also good at talking about how people can perceive the
T. J. Eckleburg. During the time the characters are going through the city of ashes the sign with Dr. T. J. Eckleburg eyes and spectacles are described, “The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic…,” (Fitzgerald 23) it continues to describe the eyes. But, the author describes these eyes looking through gold spectacles and upon an invisible face. These way it is described is as though they are the eyes of the face of God, giving the feeling of God is always watching everything happen and yet not acting upon it. Then, it continues in the next chapter of picking out the character “Owl Eyes,” who is most likely Dr. Eckleburg, due to his description. This character picks out things about Gatsby that are not described until later in the book. The first he says is that all the books are real. The simple statement says that he is trying to appeal to someone specific, Daisy. Gatsby buys everything and makes all of his parties to attract daisy to his house. Although the problem with the two characters of Dr. Eckleburg and “Owl Eyes” is that they will see the things coming but not act upon
Instead all of these characters like the idea of doing something about problems after the problem is inevitable. While all the characters keep beating around the bush they get themselves in trouble. The first of the troubles is when Gatsby decides to kiss Daisy. This simple kiss brings this book into a giant problem. Another large problem that gatsby tries to get into is the debate at the apartment in the city. Gatsby started to ask too much of Daisy, “‘I want to speak to Daisy alone,’ he insisted. ‘She’s all excited now-’ ‘Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom,’ She admitted in a pitiful voice.” (Fitzgerald 133). These simple topics brought upon pain and even death to Gatsby. This argument made Daisy stressed out to which she thought she could drive to calm down, which is not recommended. Another problem that plays into that is that Tom took Gatsby’s car to the city. Then later as Daisy was driving back she took Gatsby’s car and hit Tom’s lover. All of this could have been stopped if Gatsby had just opened his eyes and saw how bad the idea