Weather In The Great Gatsby

Some authors, when writing a story, can not find a way to put their thoughts in words. Complex ideas take over the author's mind and they have no way of putting them on paper. When this occurs, writers choose to use symbolism to reflect their thoughts and emphasize a major theme in the story. A symbol is a physical object, person, or idea that stands for a different object, person, or idea ("What is Symbolism?."). In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, symbolism such as weather, colors, and water, and objects are used throughout the story to surround Gatsby and give the novel’s theme a deeper meaning that is difficult to put in words. Symbols act as a chain between the theme of the story and the story itself. This happens by
connecting the theme with a symbol and making it appear at a certain part in the story. In this certain part, the symbol will act as a much larger meaning than what it actually says in the story. Sometimes symbols might be difficult to find, but when they are found, there is a mutual understanding between the author and the reader of what the symbol’s hidden meaning is. Also, When the story sounds dull and boring, symbolism is a great way to add imagery. It helps the readers see what is going through the author’s mind and helps the readers bring out their deep imagination. Kelly Wiggains, a high school English teacher, says that symbolism is one of the most important parts of writing. She even used to say to her students, “Fire isn’t just fire. Water is never just water,” (Wiggains). Wiggains wanted to make sure her students realized that in books, not everything is what it seems. She wants them to see that everything usually has a deeper meaning. She strived to show her students how authors use different elements and props in their stories and novels as symbols to enhance the reader’s interest in the story. As young writers, this is something we all need to learn today. Symbols make writing more interesting. In most movies that we watch today, weather symbolizes the mood of the scene at that moment.
If it is a sad part of the movie, the climate is cold and rainy. In happy parts of the move the weather is great and it is sunny. Fitzgerald did the same with his writing of The Great Gatsby. He writes this story in such a way that the weather reflects on what is going on in the novel at that point in time. For example, when Gatsby was trying to choose a day to reunite with his long lost love, Daisy. But of course, “The day agreed upon was pouring rain,” (Fitzgerald 83). The day ended up awkward, anticlimactic, and weird. In this situation, the reunion didn’t end up the way gatsby planned, so the weather reflected the situation and symbolized the weirdness in the room. The two characters talked a little more and realized that they had missed each other very much. Just as this realization was come upon, the sun started to break out of the clouds and it became a beautiful day. The great weather represented their reunion and the happy moment. Weather also shows up in the story on the hottest day of the year. This has a huge meaning. Not only was the weather hot, but the tension between characters in the novel was as well!
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”"Who wants to go to town?" demanded Daisy insistently. Gatsby's eyes floated toward her. "Ah," she cried, "you look so cool." Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. With an effort she glanced down at the table. "You always look so cool," she repeated. She had told him that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded. His mouth opened a little, and he looked at Gatsby, and then back at Daisy as if he had just recognized her as someone he knew a long time ago” (Fitzgerald 119).
This shows the beginning of all of the tension between the characters.
Tom figured out what was going on between Gatsby and Daisy. Then things started being said like, ““About Gatsby! No, I haven't. I said I'd been making a small investigation of his past." "And you found he was an Oxford man," said Jordan helpfully. "An Oxford man!" He was incredulous. "Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit."” (Fitzgerald 122). Hurtful things are said and this all reflects on the weather present in the chapter. The seasons also take up a great part of symbolism in the book. Spring has that meaning of new beginnings for characters in the story. This is when Nick moves to New York and the story begins. Next comes Summer where relationships become tense and heated. This makes sense because summer is the warmest season. Fall is the downhill of summer. Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship is coming to an end, just like the year is coming to an end in the fall or autumn season. This all leads to Winter where relationships and friendships are completely over. This relates to everything dying during
Winter. Some other huge symbols that tie to Gatsby in the story are colors. Colors come up everywhere in the book and mean so much to the story line. The first color that runs through the whole story is the color green. Green is known as the color of spring. It has the understood meaning of new beginnings and also dreams. The color is closely related to Gatsby throughout the book because of the green light. In chapter one, Nick sees Gatsby staring at the green light. He describes the scene to the readers. " “He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, as far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock." (Fitzgerald 21). This light we soon realize is a light sitting at the end of none other but Daisy’s dock. At this point in the story, Gatsby sees this light as a symbol of his dream of being with Daisy one day. He uses this light to remind him to follow his dream and get Daisy. As the story progresses and unlikely events take place that weren’t a part of Gatsby’s dream, The symbol changes.
"If it wasn't for the mist we could see your home across the bay," said Gatsby. "You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock." Daisy put her arm through his abruptly, but he seemed absorbed in what he had just said. Possibly it had occurred to him that the colossal significance of that light had now vanished forever. Compared to the great distance that had separated him from Daisy it had seemed very near to her, almost touching her. It had seemed as close as a star to the moon. Now it was again a green light on a dock. His count of enchanted objects had diminished by one” (Fitzgerald 92-93).
This quote directly explains to the readers how the symbolism of the green light changes drastically as the story goes on. The color that most often appears with Gatsby is yellow or gold. Gold most commonly means wealth, (Wolchover, Natalie). Gatsby uses this color to make sure Daisy knows he is wealthy. Even his car is the color yellow that they ride in. The car hits and kills Myrtle in the story. This most likely symbolizes the fact that wealth and too much money can be dangerous sometimes. Another category of symbols that surround Gatsby in this story are just ordinary objects. We read about normal objects all over the story but do not think anything of them. One object that brings a great deal of symbolism to the readers is Gatsby’s mansion. The house that he lived in was exceptionally large and extravagant. The size of his mansion is not fit for just one person. So, the fact that his house was so large and he was the only one living in it symbolizes the fact that money can not keep you happy. That is a reason that he had his parties. He was so alone that he needed people to come once a week. His Mansion could also tie back to a symbol of his love for Daisy. Everything ties back to Daisy. It is a possibility that Gatsby built or bought this mansion to replicate what had taken her away from him in the first place; money. ("Explanation of: 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald.") Another symbol readers find are the parties that Gatsby throws. It symbolizes Gatsby trying to get Daisy’s attention.
So you can see, symbols are a very important part of this book. Everywhere you look, you can find a symbol of some sort. Gatsby wouldn’t be the main character he is without the symbols that surround him.