摘 要

《了不起的盖茨比》是菲茨杰拉德在1925年完成的一部著作, 奠定了他在美国文学史上的地位。小说以二十世纪20年代的纽约市及长岛为背景，以尼克为叙述者，讲述了主人公盖茨比虽出生贫寒，但为了找回失去的恋人，倾其一切追求财富并在成为富翁后，重新追求初恋，但最后却因为初恋丢失生命的故事。该小说再现了“美国梦”的诱惑与破灭。本文旨在研究小说中的象征手法，简要分析了颜色，人物以及物体这三个方面的象征意象。通过运用象征手法，菲茨杰拉德揭示了他那个时代社会现实与浮华表面下“美国梦”的幻灭。

关键词：《了不起的盖茨比》；象征；颜色；人物；物体

Contents

1. Introduction..............................................................................................................1

2. Demonstration..........................................................................................................2

2.1 Symbolic colors......................................................................................................2

2.1.1 Symbolic meanings of white................................................................................2

2.1.2 Symbolic meanings of green................................................................................3

2.1.3 Symbolic meanings of yellow..............................................................................4

2.2 Symbolic characters................................................................................................5

2.2.1 Gatsby..................................................................................................................5

2.2.2 Daisy....................................................................................................................6

2.2.3 Tom......................................................................................................................6

2.3 Symbolic objects....................................................................................................6

2.3.1 The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg............................................................................7

2.3.2 The valley of ashes.............................................................................................8

3. Conclusion................................................................................................................9

Works Cited................................................................................................................10

Bibliography.................................................................................................................11

A Brief study of symbolism in The Great Gatsby

1.Introduction

F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 24, 1896. He was an American writer who won reputation early in life. In all his life of 44 years, he wrote many novels including This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned and Tender is the Night and The Great Gatsby. He also wrote short stories, including Tales of Tazz Age and All the Sad Young Man. Fitzgerald was regarded as a most respected American writer. There were many high praises of his works. Hemingway once said, “It is certain that The Great Gatsby is a top level work.”(qtd. in Carlos 163) And Elito once wrote in the letter which addressed to Fitzgrald, “I have read many novels including English novels and American novels. The Great Gatsby is the most interesting and exciting......Actually, in my view, it is American novel’s first step after Henry James.”(qtd. in Wilson 310) On December 21, 1940, Fitzgerald died from heart diease which is caused by alcoholism. And his tombstone said, “So we beat on, boats against the current, born back ceaselessly into the past.” (Fitzgerald 188)

The Great Gatsby tells a story about an American man, Gatsby, who loses his first lover because of poverty. However, he does not give up and becomes a millionaire five years later. After he returns from the battlefield, he finds his lover, Daisy, is married. In order to meet Daisy, he buys a big villa on the other side of the bay across Daisy’s house. In order to create opportunities to meet Daisy, Gatsby holds parties every day. One day, Gatsby meets Daisy and they get back together with Nick’s help. Unluckily, Daisy’s husband, Tom, finds their adultery. Tom invites Nick and Gatsby to attend his family supper in order to prove that Daisy loves him rather than Gatsby and expose Gatsby’s illegal experience. On the way home, Daisy kills Mrs. Wilson who is Tom’s mistress in a collision. In order to escape from punishment, Tom and Daisy frame Gatsby up. Gatsby is killed by Mr. Wilson, but at the same time, Daisy and Tom go travelling and live a new life in the West. After Gatsby dies, nobody comes to his funeral except Nick and Gatsby’s father.