Journal 20

Journal 20 – The Great Gatsby Conclusion

Read the novel’s last passage (beginning with, “Gatsby’s house was still empty when I left”) and discuss the use of imagery and symbolism that is being employed by Fitzgerald.  In your response, specifically address what Nick is saying about the green light and the connection that he is making between Gatsby and the Dutch sailors who “discovered” Long Island. 

The last passage starts with Nick looking back on his time in New York.  He is getting ready to move back West after Gatsby’s death and takes the time to remember all he had done and all that his life was in New York.  He uses imagery to describe the glamorous lifestyle that he had experienced in the East Egg as Gatsby’s neighbor. He mainly described the wealthy and fancy lifestyle of Gatsby and the parties he threw.  Fitzgerald was able to create an image of these parties in the readers’ mind.  The last passage also used symbolism to connect Gatsby and the Dutch sailors who discovered Long Island.  These sailors started with nothing and became wealthy from the land they discovered and built upon. This journey was similar to Gatsby’s.  His house and his lifestyle was something he built from the bottom up.  Fitzgerald used symbolism and the story of the sailors to preface what was to come for Gatsby.