What Does Clothing Symbolize In The Great Gatsby
In the pathos filled novel, the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a man returns from war only to fight worse battles at home, one for love, one for money and one for more time. Symbols and themes throughout the novel guide the story down a path that has an underlying pain and need for acceptance. J. Gatsby wants not only to feel loved by Daisy but he also feels a need to earn the acceptance of the elites of the time. In one part of the story, we see Daisy crying over Gatsby’s shirt, those shirts represent how monetary appearance is more important than character to the elites. Those same colors used to depict clothing is also used to depict emotion and mood in inanimate objects like the curtains and cars. Finally, the presence of alcohol
at parties and crucial parts of the story depicts the underlying taboo of the relationships and actions of the characters.
Consistently throughout the story, J. Gatsby is described in great depth and detail when it comes to his appearance. When Gatsby comes over to Nick’s house to see Daisy we have a clear description of how luxurious of an outfit Gatsby is wearing, “An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald 84). The consistent descriptions of the lavish outfits and appearance of Gatsby isn’t just part of F. Scott’s flair, it is instead a way to prove the lack of value that character has when concerning others. The appearance of money to Daisy is more than enough. She didn’t marry Gatsby originally because he lacked the monetary status she craved. Now that he has money, all that matters are the façades that the money provides to coat his personality. The descriptions provide an image of the perfect Gatsby until the very end of the story when “the holocaust was complete” (Fitzgerald 162). In the infamous shirt scene, Daisy begins to cry over shirts that Gatsby owns. This backs up the idea that clothing or symbolically appearance, is more important to Daisy than Gatsby himself, she cries over clothes but not him.
at parties and crucial parts of the story depicts the underlying taboo of the relationships and actions of the characters.
Consistently throughout the story, J. Gatsby is described in great depth and detail when it comes to his appearance. When Gatsby comes over to Nick’s house to see Daisy we have a clear description of how luxurious of an outfit Gatsby is wearing, “An hour later the front door opened nervously, and Gatsby, in a white flannel suit, silver shirt, and gold-colored tie, hurried in.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald 84). The consistent descriptions of the lavish outfits and appearance of Gatsby isn’t just part of F. Scott’s flair, it is instead a way to prove the lack of value that character has when concerning others. The appearance of money to Daisy is more than enough. She didn’t marry Gatsby originally because he lacked the monetary status she craved. Now that he has money, all that matters are the façades that the money provides to coat his personality. The descriptions provide an image of the perfect Gatsby until the very end of the story when “the holocaust was complete” (Fitzgerald 162). In the infamous shirt scene, Daisy begins to cry over shirts that Gatsby owns. This backs up the idea that clothing or symbolically appearance, is more important to Daisy than Gatsby himself, she cries over clothes but not him.