The Great Gatsby archetypes

Symbols

Jealousy

Green is often correlated with the feeling of jealousy, even from ancient times. The term “green with envy” refers to someone feeling so envious they feel ill.

Greed

The green color could also represent the element of wealth and money that dictates power in the society of the 1920’s

Growth

Another symbolic meaning of green: growth within life.
-he wants reach the growth in his life that he wanted to obtain with Daisy. --he wanted to grow old with her, and start a new life.

Dreams/hopes

Nick said "Gatsby believed in the green light" he was reaching towards this flashing green light. Does this green light represents his future and how he dedicated his life to chasing the girl of his dreams that was unattainable?

Repetition/deeper meanings

They Represent the lifestyle of the roaring 20s with extravagant parties

They showed Gatsby's dedication to daisy, and how she hoped that one day she would attend.

I think that the American dream is meant to manipulate the working class. Becoming rich by hard work and dedication, of course, isn't wrong, but that idea planted in the working class is truly in favor of the rich. With working-class contributing more time to work to achieve “ the American dream” the rich only get richer.

-Gatsby's tragic death is the result of the American dream.

-Daisy was going to call Jay Gatsby, after the fight with Tom as a indicator that she will run away from him (Gatsby's dream)

-Gatsby waiting for her call was foreshowed by Daisy waiting for Jay to come back from war.

-in the five year wait, Gatsby did everything he could to reach a wealth to win back Daisy.

-Daisy never called, and Jay was shot at the time she was supposed to call. This timed death represents the death of his dream.

Plot patterns
and
Character roles

Tom buchanan

The greedy villain

Jodan baker

The trictster

Daisy

temptress/love interest

Jay Gatsby

Mysterious hero/dreamer

Nick Carraway

middle man

"eyes of god"(willson) It represents passing judgment, and symbolizes how the billboard was always watching peoples worst actions. ex, daisy hitting Myrtle.

The eyes see the corruption within ones inner soul.

Personification of the eyes on the Billboard convey that the eyes are what judge those who take part and bad actions.

The clock symbolizes the time lost in the war that Gatsby is trying to get back.

Symbolizes the time passed from the last time Jay and Daisy were together and happy.

Changing the past is something he has his mind set on doing, “Can't repeat the past? Why, of course, you can!” (Gatsby)

When the clock breaks, the represents how Gatsby wanted to stop time and go back to five years before.

Daisy

Jay Gatsby

Tom