The Role of Symbolism in "The Great
Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, often considered one of the quintessential American
novels, owes much of its impact to its rich use of symbolism. Set against the backdrop of the
Roaring Twenties, a period marked by economic prosperity, moral decadence, and a thirst for
social mobility, the novel centers on the mysterious Jay Gatsby, who strives to win back his lost
love, Daisy Buchanan. Yet beneath the surface of this glamorous narrative lies a deep meditation
on the American Dream, materialism, and social class, explored through a complex web of
symbolic imagery.
One of the most significant symbols in the novel is the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock,
visible from Gatsby’s mansion across the bay. For Gatsby, this light represents his unrelenting
hope and desire to rekindle his love with Daisy, but it also symbolizes the unattainability of his
dream. The green light is a representation of the American Dream itself—an ideal that promises
prosperity and fulfillment but remains elusive for those who cannot navigate the complexities of
social class. As Gatsby reaches toward the light, he remains unaware that the very dream he
chases is a mirage, destined to remain just out of reach, a recurring theme in the novel.
Another key symbol is the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, depicted on a billboard that overlooks the
Valley of Ashes, a desolate area between East Egg and New York City. The faded, all-seeing
eyes, painted on the billboard, are often interpreted as a symbol of the moral decay that underlies
the pursuit of wealth in the novel. Some readers view these eyes as a metaphor for the absence of
God in a world consumed by materialism and superficiality. The eyes seem to gaze down upon
the characters’ actions, a reminder that even in a world of excess, there is no moral compass to
guide them, highlighting the emptiness that comes with the pursuit of wealth and status.
Finally, the novel’s setting itself—the contrast between East Egg, where the old-moneyed class
resides, and West Egg, home to new-moneyed characters like Gatsby—serves as an important
symbol of the divide between inherited wealth and the self-made. Gatsby, despite his riches,
cannot escape the judgment of those born into old money, illustrating the limitations of social
mobility and the deep-rooted class divisions in American society.

In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses symbolism not only to enhance the novel’s narrative but
also to deepen its exploration of the American Dream. Through objects like the green light and
the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg, Fitzgerald weaves a critique of a society that worships wealth and
status, but ultimately fails to find meaning or satisfaction. The novel’s symbols serve as poignant
reminders that the pursuit of an idealized dream often leads to disillusionment and tragedy.