Analytical Correctness

Well, this week I'm in a bind for time, so I decided to do a quick analytical essay to get it over with. Everyone loves a good analytical essay, right? Talking about themes and symbols just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I know a special somebody who also likes to discuss the themes and symbols in The Great Gatsby, and that someone is Jacob Garwin! This one goes out to you buddy, I'll keep our conversation in mind while writing this and make sure to include lots of original ideas.
     As I pointed out in the picture blog, The Great Gatsby is a novel that can be analyzed on many different levels. It contains all of the literary elements; characterization, theme, mood, symbol, conflict, irony, style, suspense, and allusion. I could go on and on about all the elements, but for the sake of brevity, I can't discuss them all. I've already talked about themes and symbols in the picture blog, so to add something new that hasn't been discussed as of now, I'll talk briefly about the conflict and suspense towards the end of the book, and how Fitzgerald chooses to portray those elements
     Apart from using symbols in The Great Gatsby to get across the themes, Fitzgerald uses motifs to help get across the mood of a scene. His use of the symbols and motifs together can demonstrate much more than what the text says outright. For example, midway through the book, Gatsby arranges to be reunited with Daisy. The scene takes place amid the pouring rain. Gatsby comes over wearing a white suit, one of Fitzgerald's symbols in this case demonstrating feigned purity. The reunion proves to be awkward and dreary, and the rain provides a dark and uncomfortable mood to the whole thing. Later on however, they head over to Gatsby's house and rekindle that old flame right as the sun comes out. Poetic.
     Later in the book, the motif of weather arises again to set the mood for a pivotal scene. It is the hottest day of the summer and the tempers are flaring. Tom Buchanan finds out about Gatsby's affair with his wife and confronts them about it. This is when the tension of the book comes to a boil, which is enhanced by the fact that the temperature is literally "boiling."
     So there's that; just a couple more examples of the many tools used by Fitzgerald to provide "Gatsby" with a deeper meaning and make it that much more interesting.