Role of Weather in the Great Gatsby
Everyone has inevitably felt gloomy or calm on rainy days while feeling happy and hopeful on sunny days. This natural human feeling is portrayed as an aura throughout The Great Gatsby.
"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer" (Gatbsy 4).
In this quote, summer is referred to as an exciting new start. However, after reading the novel, I've come to realize that sunshine really means intense and heated; the day of Tom and Gatsby's dispute was "the warmest, of the summer" (114). However, when the sun begins to set that night, the real problem occurs: Myrtle's death. Fitzgerald incorporates weather in a way that mimics the atmosphere of the scene.
When Gatsby and Daisy finally have a reunion at Nick's house, the awkwardness and sadness between them are very evident. You can probably guess how the weather is at this time: heavy rain. As the rain begins to fall, the hopes that Gatsby had about their reunion also begins to fall. He begins to think that this whole idea was a "terrible mistake" (87); however, this changes as sunshine starts to find its way into the room and their relationship. Gatbsy became glowing. Unfortunately, this sunshine only lasts for few hours, just like Gatsby and Daisy's relationship lasting only for a day after the reunion.
Another example would be the leaves. It can be inferred that throughout the summer the leaves grow. Nothing too complicated. But just like the fall of sunshine led to Mrytle's death, the fall of leaves led to Gatsby's death. As Gatsby's life death, and hopes fell, he "must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through [the fall of ] frightening leaves"(161). These frightening leaves soon became a "cluster of leaves tracing...a thin red circle in the water"(162). As the leaves fell, Gatsby's envision of getting together with Daisy also fell. His unaccomplished dreams died with him.
"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer" (Gatbsy 4).
In this quote, summer is referred to as an exciting new start. However, after reading the novel, I've come to realize that sunshine really means intense and heated; the day of Tom and Gatsby's dispute was "the warmest, of the summer" (114). However, when the sun begins to set that night, the real problem occurs: Myrtle's death. Fitzgerald incorporates weather in a way that mimics the atmosphere of the scene.
When Gatsby and Daisy finally have a reunion at Nick's house, the awkwardness and sadness between them are very evident. You can probably guess how the weather is at this time: heavy rain. As the rain begins to fall, the hopes that Gatsby had about their reunion also begins to fall. He begins to think that this whole idea was a "terrible mistake" (87); however, this changes as sunshine starts to find its way into the room and their relationship. Gatbsy became glowing. Unfortunately, this sunshine only lasts for few hours, just like Gatsby and Daisy's relationship lasting only for a day after the reunion.
Another example would be the leaves. It can be inferred that throughout the summer the leaves grow. Nothing too complicated. But just like the fall of sunshine led to Mrytle's death, the fall of leaves led to Gatsby's death. As Gatsby's life death, and hopes fell, he "must have looked up at an unfamiliar sky through [the fall of ] frightening leaves"(161). These frightening leaves soon became a "cluster of leaves tracing...a thin red circle in the water"(162). As the leaves fell, Gatsby's envision of getting together with Daisy also fell. His unaccomplished dreams died with him.
Your colored words added a very creative touch to this post, Sahita! You also provided very clear analysis on weather's role that helped me better understand Fitzgerald's writing techniques.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and nice touch with the colors! I completely agree with your analysis of the weather and felt the same way about realizing that sunny and hot days were meant to represent an intense situation, not a pleasant one. Did you realize how other authors have done this in past novels you have read? Overall very insightful post!
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