分析《了不起的蓋茨比》中的象征主義

ChapterOneIntroductionTheGreatGatsby,publishedin1925,isashortnovelwrittenbyAmericanwriterFitzgeraldonthebackdropofNewYorkCityandLongIslandinthe1920s.ThestorymainlydepictsthestoryoftheprotagonistJames-Kates,whowasapoorfarmer’ssonwhohaddreamedofbecomingaprominentfiguresincechildhood.Afteralotofeffort,hefinallycameoutandchangedhisnametoJay-Gatsby.Withthethemeofcontemporarysociallife,thebooksymbolizestheironyandsadnessbehindthelegendofthe“AmericanDream.”TheGreatGatsbyhasearnedanunassailableplaceinthehistoryofAmericanliterature.Attheendofthe20thcentury,AmericanacademicauthoritiesselectedonehundredofthebestnovelsinthelonghistoryofEnglishliterature,andTheGreatGatsbyrankedsecond.ThebackgroundofFitzgerald’serahasalsoleftaspecialmarkonhiscreativeideasandstyle,soheisalsoknownasthespokesmanofthe“JazzAge”,andhisworksdeeplyreflecttheplightandaspirationsofthe“l(fā)ostgeneration”.InTheGreatGatsby,Fitzgeraldusedalotofsymbolismandwritingtechniquestoexpressthetheme,ratherthansimplystatingandexpressinghisminddirectly.Fitzgerald,throughhisstrongcreativityandimagination,usesrichimagerytodeeplyrevealthethemesofthenovelandthefatesofvariouscharacters.Theuseofsymbolictechniqueshasallowedtheworktogobeyondthelimitationsoflovestoriesandhavebeenendowedwithbroadersocialsignificance--themoraldeclineanddisillusionmentofpeopleafterlosingtheirfaithunderthehalooftheJazzera.Thissymbolictechniquerunsthroughthenovel,playingaroleinhighlightingandelevatingthetheme,andmakingsomeseeminglyordinarydetailsintriguingandfascinating.Atthesametime,healsodeeplyexpressedhisattitudetowardsAmericansocietyandthe“AmericanDream”ofthe1920sthroughthedescriptionoftheseimages.Therefore,theanalysisofthenovelTheGreatGatsbyfromtheperspectiveofsymbolismcaneffectivelyrevealtheconnotationandsignificanceofeachimage.ChapterTwoIntroductionofTheGreatGatsbyandFitzgerald2.1IntroductionofTheGreatGatsbyTheGreatGatsbyisthemostsuccessfulworkofAmericanwriterFitzgerald.ThenoveltellsthelovestoryofGatsby,ayoungfarmerintheAmericanWest,andDaisy,anupper-classgirl.DuringtheFirstWorldWar,GatsbywasstationedintheSouthasanofficerintheU.S.ArmyandfellinlovewithDaisy.Daisylivedwithawealthyfamily.Shewasfilledwithvanity.ShethoughtGatsbywaspoor.SherefusedtomarryhimandmarriedTom,arichplayboy.GatsbyreturnedfromtheEuropeanexpedition,neverforgettinghisoldlove,andwasdeterminedtomakeafortuneandentertheupper-classsocietywithhisskills,andwinDaisyagain.Fiveyearslater,Gatsbyreturns,havingmadehisfortune.HereuniteswithDaisyandtriestoreconnectwithhisolddreams,butDaisydoesnothavethecouragetoleaveTom.Oneday,DaisydrivesbacktoLongIslandfromNewYorkwithGatsby,killsMrs.Mottle,andescapes.Later,DaisyputsGatsbyinaboothinfrontofTomandtellshimthatGatsbyisresponsibleforMrs.Mottle’sdeath.Tomwasjealous.AfterdiscoveringDaisy’ssecret,hehatedGatsbytotheboneandtheninstigatedMerkeltokillGatsby.WiththepublicationofTheGreatGatsby,Scott-FitzgeraldenteredAmericanmodernliteraryhistoryasanadvocateforthe“JazzAge”andoneofthemostimportantwritersofthe“LostGeneration”ofthe1920s.Inthelate1920s.TheGreatGatsbyrankssecondandhasbeenmovedtothescreenandstagemanytimes.2.2IntroductionofFitzgeraldFitzgeraldwasbornonSeptember24,1896,inSt.Paul,Minnesota.Hisfatherwasafurnituredealer.Asachild,hetriedtowriteascript.Aftergraduatingfromhighschool,hewenttoPrincetonUniversity,whereheorganizedhisowntheatercompanyandwrotefortheschool’sliterarymagazine.Laterheleftschoolduetopoorhealth.In1917,hejoinedthearmy.Hedevotedhisentiredaytomilitarytrainingandneverwentabroadtofight.Afterleavingthemilitary,hecontinuedtowriteinhissparetime.In1920,hepublishedhisnovel“ParadiseonEarth”andbecamefamous.Afterthepublicationofthenovel,hemarriedZelda.Afterhismarriage,heandhiswifemovedtoParis,wheretheymetmanyAmericanwriters,includingAndersonandHemingway.TheGreatGatsbywaspublishedin1925andleftalastingmarkonthehistoryofmodernAmericanliterature,becomingarepresentativeofthe“JazzAge”andoneoftherepresentativewritersofthe“l(fā)ostgeneration”ofthe1920s.In1934,hewrotethenovelTenderNight.In1936,hebeganwritingTheLastTycoon,tryingtoescapeintotheluxuriousandromanticpast,butfailedtocompleteit.OnDecember21,1940,hediedofaheartattackintheGrammapartmentinHollywoodattheageof44.ChapterThreeSymbolismTheory3.1DefinitionofSymbolismSymbolismisatermderivedfromtheGreekword“symbolon”,whichoriginallyreferringtoapieceofwood(oratypeofpottery)splitintotwosothattheownerandguestcouldretainonewhentheymetagain,andtheothertorepresenttheirfriendship.Throughvariousdevelopments,ithascometomean“acustomaryrepresentationofaconceptwithanextendedshapetorepresentsomeideaorthing.”Anysignorobjectthatcanrepresentaparticularideaorthingiscalleda“symbol”.Itisdifferentfromthemetaphorthatpeopleoftenuse.Itcapturestheessenceofthingsandhasadeepermeaningthanametaphor.ItisanartmovementthatemergedinBritainandseveralWesterncountriesinthelate19thcentury.Itstheoreticalbasisissubjectiveidealism,accordingtowhichtherealworldisillusoryandpainful,whilethe“otherworld”isrealandbeautiful.Itisrequiredtostimulatethesenseswithobscurelanguage,producemysteriousassociationsoftrance,andformsome“image”,thatis,theso-called“symbol”.TheAmericanpoetandliterarycriticArthurSimmonshassaidthat“asymbolisaconventionalexpressionofformforthoughtandofmaterialfortheimmaterial”.Eliotarguedthatthepoetmustfind“objectiveequivalents”ofhisthoughtsandfeelingsinreality.Inotherwords,symbolsusecertainthingsintheobjectiveworld,suchasanimalsandplants,colors,sounds,etc.tosuggestandconveythewriter'sthoughtsandfeelings.Themeaningofthesymbolliesinthecombinationoftheconcreteandtheabstract.Theconcreteandtheabstractareapairofopposites,andthesymbolsunitesthisoppositiontogetherandconveysabstractthoughtsthroughcolorfulandconcreteimages.Accordingtodefinitions,wecanconcludethatsymbolsareeverywhere.Thedovesymbolizespeace.Butthesymbolsinliteratureworksaredifferent.Asymbolinaliteraryworkisusuallyawaychosenbythepoetorauthortoexpressthesubjectofthework,andcanonlybeunderstoodinthespecificcontextoftheworks.3.2CharacteristicsofSymbolismItemphasizessubjectivetruthandtakesasymbolasthemaincreativemethod,henceitsname,symbolism.Thethemecanbeexpressedthroughcontrasts,associations,suggestionsandotherformsofexpression,aswellasawiderangeofsymbolicassociationsthatencouragecreativeinspiration.Emphasizethetransferoffeelings.Pursuethebeautyofsculptureandmusicinpoetry;pursuetheneatnessofformandharmonyofrhyme.Symbolistartistsopposetheobjectivedepictionofnaturethroughrealismandimpressionism.Emphasizetheexpressionofsubjectivespirit.Theytrustthatpeople’sinnerworldisincomprehensibleanddifficulttounderstand.Theycanonlyusesymbolicmeanstometaphorizethemesandemotionswithallegoricalandsymbolicbutconcreteandperceptibleimages,totracebackthesubtleandmysteriousinnerworld,tofindtherightconnectionbetweentheexternalthingsandtheinnerworld.Withmysteriouscolors.3.3ApproachofSymbolismThesymbolismapproachisaliteraryapproachthatusesconcreteobjectstoexpressabstractorinconvenientlyexpressedmeanings.Symbolismapproachincludebothsymbolandonumenonaspects,andthesymbolicandontologicalaspectsmustbeintrinsicallylinked.Thisrelationshipisformedthroughassociations,whichmeansthatathingisthoughtthroughotherthingsrelatedtoit,thatis,thinkingfromtheontologytothesimilaritiesandsimilaritiesofsymbolicbodies,therebyvisualizingandconcretizingabstractideas,meanings,andconcepts.ChapterFourSymbolisminTheGreatGatsby4.1SymbolicSignificanceoftheStoryEnvironment4.1.1SymbolicSignificanceofPlaceThehistoryoftheUnitedStatesoriginatedinthecoloniesoftheEast.TheEasternpeoplewhodidnotmovetotheWestturnedmoreintenselytoEuropeancultureandstrengthenedtheirconnectionwiththetradition,formingagentleconservatism.WiththeadvancementoftheWesterndevelopmentoftheUnitedStates,theWesterncivilization,withouttheheavypressureofhistory,oftenpresentsmorepassionandvitality,andisfullofastrongenterprisingspirit.Inthisculturalcontext,FitzgeraldcreatedTheGreatGatsby.Theeasternpartoftheplacewherethestorytakesplace,appearstobeaworldfullofcharmandhopeonthesurface,butwhenyoustepintothisland,youwillfindthatithasruined.Thus,“East”and“West”arenolongerjusttworegionalconcepts,butrepresenttraditionandmodernity,thecontradictionsandconflictsbetweenthetwovaluesofconservationandinnovation.Theauthorisjusttryingtoexpressthisfierceideologicalopposition.Therefore,hetransformedthetworegionalconceptsoftheEastandtheWestinto“Eastegg”and“Westegg”inthenovel,whichbecameanimportantsceneembeddedinthenovel.TomandDaisy,bornintoarichfamily,liveinDongegg.Theyareelegantandnobleonthesurface,butgreedyandcruelattheheart;WestEggliveslikeapoorGatsby,fullofpassionandeagerforsuccess.Theauthorsetsthehistoricalandrealisticsituationwithasymbolicplacename,andsuccessfullycombinespersonalexperiencewiththebackgroundofthegreatera.Atthesametime,theconflictofregionalconceptsisfinallyreflectedinthefateofthecharacters,makingthenovelmoreprofoundandrealistic.InTheGreatGatsby,theauthoralsodescribesa“valleyofashes”,whichvividlyshowsasmoky,grey,andlifeless“valleyofgarbage”:Thisisagrayvalley--astrangefarm,wherethedustgrowslikewheatontheridgeoftheembankment,onthehillside,andinthegrotesquegarden;wherethedustcoversthegraybodiesthatarevaguelymovingandaregraduallycollapsinginthedustyair.Itsymbolizesthat,inthecontextoftherapideconomicdevelopmentoftheUnitedStatesafterWorldWarI,people’svalueshaveundergonedrasticchangesandevendistortions:moneyissupreme,andmaterialdesiresflow,people’sspiritualworldisempty,confused,andhopeless.ItisinthisworldthatGatsby,whoisfullofidealsandambitions,andTomandDaisy,whoaregreedyforpleasureandselfishandcunning,meettheirlifepaths,andallkindsofcharactersalsocomeonstage,andjointlyperformatragicomedyofthetimes.Thereisanotherparagraphinthenovel:Wewaitedforherontheroadwherenoonecouldseeher.Inafewdays,itwasJuly4.Therefore,apale,bonyItalianchildplacedtorpedoesalongtherailwaytrack.WhenNickfirstsetfootonthelandofGreyValley,itwasbeforetheNationalDayoftheUnitedStates.Thearrangementofthisscenealsosymbolizestheauthor’sdeepreflectionaboutthecountryandthissystemandpredictsGatsby’sfate,notonlyashispersonaltragedy,butalsoasthetragedyofthateraandsociety.4.1.2SymbolicSignificanceofTimeTheEastisachaoticworld,fullofemptiness,hypocrisy,andmoralcorruption,andeventimeseemstobederailedanddisordered.WhenthesunsetisstillreflectedonTom’sporch,fourcandleswerealreadywavinginthewind.Beforespringhaspassed,summerhascomeearly.Onthathotsummerafternoon,thesilvercrescentmoonwashangingonthehorizon.Allthesephenomenaagainstthelawsofnatureprovethedisorderoftime,andalsoimplythedisorderofthespiritualworld.Noonecanturnbacktheclock.ButGatsbychallengedthisrealhaircut.Henaivelybelievedthathecoulderasehisrealpastandusethehugewealthhehadgainedtodaytocreatethepasthehopedfor.ThisiswhyhetriedeverymeanstomakeuphisshiningidentitytowinDaisy’slove.Becauseinhiseyes,Daisysymbolizesthepurity,beauty,andromanceofthenewworld.However,timeistime,andnoonecanchangetheso-called“timeflies”.Aboutfiveyearslater,whenGatsbyandDaisymetagain,FitzgeraldspeciallyarrangedthesceneinNick’slivingroom.Gatsbyleanedonthefireplace,andthestoppedoldclockhungonthefireplacewasjustlikeasignofthepast.Afterawhile,Gatsbywassonervousthathebumpedintotheclock.Fortunately,hegrabbeditwithtremblingfingersintimeandputitbackinplace.ItseemsthathecanseizethepastandwinDaisy’slove.Buttimestillprevailed,forcingGatsbytofacereality.Inthenovel,Fitzgerald’sthoughtsandfeelingsabouttimearereflectedinthetimeexperiencesofthemaincharactersandtheartisticformofthenovel.Firstofall,Gatsby’stimeexperiencebelongstoBergson’s“subjectivetime”inessence.AccordingtoBergson,psychologicaltimereferstothecontinuoussubjectiveconsciousnessofpeople.ThenovelshowsaseriesofchangesinGatsby’spsychologicalconsciousnesstoshowthathistimeexperienceissubjectivetimeexperience.BycomparingGatsbyandBeck,Fitzgeraldhighlightedthesignificanceofsubjectivetime,thatis,theaffirmationofahuman’ssubjectiveconsciousness.Atthesametime,Gatsbyisapersonwholivesinthepast.Thisisalsohissubjectiveexperience.ByemphasizingtheimportanceofthepasttoGatsbyandothercharacters,Fitzgeraldimpliedthatmanisahistoricalexistence,andstressedthesignificanceofthepastandhistorytoanation.Secondly,whileaffirmingtheroleofsubjectivetime,Fitzgeraldalsotriedtoexplainthedestructivepowerofthestreamoftimeandthelimitationsofpsychologicaltime.Thiscanbereflectedintheineffectiveconfrontationbetweenthemaincharactersandthestreamoftime.Finally,throughNick’svoice,Fitzgeraldexpressedhistranscendenceandhigherpursuitofsubjectivetime,thatis,toendthechaoticstateofthewastelandandrestorethetraditionoforder.Eventually,thesymbolicmeaningofGatsby’shouse,car,andcaraccidentsreflectsFitzgerald’stime,feelingsandthinking.Thechangeofthehouserepresentsthepassageoftime,andalsorepresentstheabsenceofthepastinthepresent.Thecarisasymbolofthecurrentfast-pacedlives,representingthespeedoftime.Throughtheimageofthecaraccident,Fitzgeraldquestionedthevalueandsignificanceoftimeandspeed.Inaddition,thenarrativestructureoftimeinthenovelalsoreflectsFitzgerald’sconceptsoftime.4.1.3SymbolicSignificanceofWeatherInadditiontotheplace,spring,autumn,andrain,asanindispensablefactorinthenovel,alsoshowstheirpowerfulsymbolicfunction.ThisnovelstartswithNick’sarrivalintheEastinthespring,reachesitsclimaxinthehotsummer,andendsintheautumnfullofleaves.Peoplesaythattheplanoftheyearliesinspring,springistheseasonwheneverythingrevives,everythingwakesupfromthecoldofwinter,springisaseasonfullofhope,andpeoplestarttolookfortheirhappiness.Theopeningofthestorydepictsafreshpicture.FitzgeraldarrangedforNick’sjourneytostartinthespring,whichsymbolizesthedreamNickpursues.Hisworkgiveshimabrightfutureintermsofwealthandsocialstatus.It’slikewhattheysayaboutthelawsofnature:plantseedsinthespringandreapfruitsinthefall.So,onawarmandwindynight,IdrovetoEastEggtovisittwooldfriendsIbarelyknew.ThestoryofGatsbybeganinthesummer,leavingaromanticimpressionintheearlysummer.Autumnistheseasonofharvestingfruit,representingtheseasonofjoyandhappiness.Butanunfortunatefateisalsoquietlywaitingforthedreamer.Whentheairisfilledwiththesmellofautumn,Gatsby’sdoomisslowlycoming.WilsonkilledGatsbywhenitwasjustthebeginningofautumn.WhenGatsbyfloatsinhisswimmingpool,therewasanobviouschillintheairandspace,symbolizingthattheauthorwantedtotrytokeeptimestillandrestoretherelationshipbetweenGatsbyandDaisyinthesummer.AfterGatsby’sdeath,theeasternpartofthecountrywassoghostlyinmymindthatitwasbeyondmyabilitytocorrectmyeyes.Sowhenthebluesmokefromthedeadleavesfilledtheairandthecoldwindblewthewetclothesonthelinehard,Idecidedtogohome.Atlast,Nickrealizedthecultureofmoneyworshipthatpermeatedtheeasternpartandsetofftothewestintheautumn.Rainisalsoanimportantsymbol.Raininthestoryhastwospecialdepictions:thefirstrainappearedwhenGatsbyandDaisymetagain;thesecondrainappearedatafuneralafterGatsby’sdeath.GatsbyreuniteswithDaisyinthepouringrain,whichsymbolizestheembarrassmentofthesceneandthesadnessbetweenthetwo.Whenwemeetagain,itrainsheavily,whichisanominousomen.TherainonthefuneraldayaccompaniedGatsbyfromhishometothecemetery.FitzgeraldarrangedGatsby’sfuneralonarainyday.WhathewantedpeopletoknowwasthatthissorrowwasthatthissorrowwasnotonlycausedbythedeathofGatsby,butalsobytheindifferenceoftherich.Therainsymbolizesthesadnessinhisheart.Nickcouldfeelthissadness.Nickfeltinexplicablesadnessandgriefthroughtherain.ThearrangementofGatsby’sfuneralonrainydaysshowstheauthor’ssympathyforGatsby.4.2SymbolicSignificanceoftheCharacters4.2.1SymbolicSignificanceofNick’sCharacterInhisearlyworks,Fitzgeraldmostlyusedthetraditionalomniscientnarrativemodeofnovels,whileinTheGreatGatsby,theauthorarrangedNickasacharactertotellthestory,whichisanewwritingmethod.FitzgeraldarrangedNicktonarratethestory,whichcangivetheworkgreatertensionandimaginationspaceinwriting.ThereasonwhyFitzgeraldattemptedthistechniquewasforaspecialpurpose.Intermsoftheimportanceofthework,Nick,the"dualprotagonist"designedbytheauthor,isnotinferiortoGatsbyinmanyaspects.FromNick'snarrativeandourunderstandingoftheauthorFitzgerald'slife,itisnotdifficulttofindthatNicksharesmanysimilaritieswiththeauthorhimselfinvariousaspectssuchasfamilybackground,educationalexperience,militarycareer,literarypreferences,andtheexplorationofgoldfromwesttoeast.NickisallowedtoobserveGatsbyandreplacetheauthor'sobjectivedescriptionofGatsbyandothercharactersanalyzedinthenovel,Moreover,conductingmoralevaluationsandsymboliccommentsonthematthesametimecanenabletheauthortobemoreflexibleandfreeinwriting.Thisnovelachievedstructuralbalanceandnarrativeflexibility.TheauthoropensalongchapterdescribingNick'smanyvaluablestrengths.Forexample,Nickhasahabitofmakingmanyjudgmentsthathaveopenedhiscuriousheart,buthestillretainshisownviewsonpeopleandthings,whichsymbolizesthatherepresentstheprincipleofmoraljudgmentinhisworks.AsNickmovedstepbysteptowardsthecoreofTomandDaisy'swealthyanddebauchedlives,healsograduallydiscoveredGatsby'sdreams,whereinnocencewasdeeplyingrainedinGatsby'snature.ItcanbeeasilyseenherethatNickisamoralevaluator,ratherthanjustanarratororoneofthecharacters.Oneofthethemesofthenovelisthecollisionbetweenidealsandreality,theoppositionbetweeninnocenceandsophistication.Attheendofthenovel,NickisdeeplydisappointedwiththehypocrisyandcrueltyofwealthypeoplelikeTomandDaisyafterattendingGatsby'ssimplefuneral.HealsoreturnstohishometownintheWest,furtherconsolidatinganddeepeningthistheme,deeplyreflectingthedisillusionmentofidealscausedbythecrueltyofreality.4.2.2SymbolicSignificanceofGatsby’sCharacterGatsbyisatragicprotagonistthattheauthortriestocarveout.HeisaFaustiancharacter.Thiskindofpersonstruggleswithobstaclesendlessly.InGatsby’sbody,wecanseeamanwhoisobsessedandattachedtolove.Atthesametime,Gatsbyexhibitsself-humiliationandextremepersonality.Gatsbyisdeeplyhumiliatedandresentfulofhisbirth.Themutationinsurvivalistheinevitableculminationofhispreviouschoicesandexperiences.Heyearnsforaninfinitestate.Atthesametime,GatsbyisaDonQuixotewhoisnotsupportedbythetimesandsocialnormsandisridiculednaked.Inthenovel,heiscalled“thesonofGod...Hemustservehisheavenlyfather”.HeistheembodimentofpurespiritualpursuitandthesymboloftheAmericanDream.Gatsbyoverstepsthematerialandcannotdistinguishrealityfromadream.Thegoalhepursuesis“akindofbroad,vulgar,flashybeauty”,butthemeansheusesforthisgoalareutilitarianism.Gatsby’slifeexperiencefollowsaclearpattern:“dream--disillusionment–failure,anddespair”,InGatsby’slegendarylife,readerscanseethereappearanceofFitzgerald’sownlife.FitzgeraldwasbornintoasmallbusinessfamilyandcompletedhisstudiesatPrincetonUniversityonthebasisofhismother'ssmallinheritance.AfterthepublicationofParadiseonEarthin1920,hebecamefamous.Atthistime,hewonhis“mostbeautifulgirl”Sandaagain.However,lifeaftermarriagewasnotsogood.Sandawassufferingfromamentalillness.Atthattime,theUnitedStateswasinaneconomicdepression,andthenovel’screationalsofellintoalowebb,andlifewasdifficult.InTheGreatGatsby,FitzgeraldendowedGatsbywithprofoundsymbolicsignificancethroughhisownexperience.FitzgeraldmadeasharpcriticismofAmericansociety,ethics,andvaluesafterthewarthroughthedisillusionofGatsby’sdream.Americawasonceagreenandhealthyworld,anditusheredinthelastandgreatestdreamofmankind.Now,tomakewayformodernculture,thisprimevalforesthasbeendestroyed,andtheonlysuitablesymbolisthe“ashvalley”-a“humanhell”.Modernpeoplearelivinginthisbarrenlandwithoutlifeormeaning.ItisFitzgerald’sgreatestsuccesstocompareGatsby’spersonallifewiththeculturalhistoryoftheUnitedStatestoalargeextent.Theauthorusessymbolictechniquestoexpressthedisappointmentofthe“l(fā)ostgeneration”towardstheUnitedStatesafterthewar,theanxietyoftraditionalvalues,andtraditionalideals,andthesadnessofthedisillusionmentoftheUnitedStates.T.S.EliotcommentedonthefirstappearanceofTheGreatGatsby:Inmyopinion,thisisthefirststeptakenbyAmericannovelssinceHenryJames.AsaclassicmasterpieceintheAmericanliteraryworld,thisnovel'spositionisenduring,andithastranscendedtheboundariesoftime.Timehasenteredthe21stcentury.Re-readingthisnovelenablesusnotonlytoappreciatetheauthor’ssuperbwritingskills,butalsotounderstandthepursuitsanddreamsofyoungpeopleinthatspecialera.Today,whenthe“knowledgeeconomy”and“informationtechnology”haveenteredpeople’slives.Whenwere-readFitzgerald’swork,wefindthathistoryhasitslaws,andmanyoftheproblemsthatexistinmoderncivilizedsocietyhavealreadybeendescribedinFitzgerald’swork.Therefore,thisfilmgivesusanewspiritualpower,givesusanewinspiration,andencouragesustomoveforwardandgoagainstthecurrent.4.3SymbolicSignificanceofColors4.3.1SymbolicSignificanceofWhiteWhitesymbolizesDaisy’spurityandinnocence.GatsbybelievesthatwealthistheonlymaterialbasisforDaisy.Afterbecomingrich,heboughtawhiteluxuryvillanearDaisy’shouseinordertogetclosetoher.WiththehelpofDaisy’scousinNick,hefinallyachievedhiswish.BeforemeetingDaisy,helookedflusteredandfidgety.HewonderedwhetherhiswealthwouldattractDaisyandwhetherhisdreamwouldcometrue.Gatsbywaswearing“awhiteflannelsuit,asilvershirt,andagoldtie”.WhiteisGatsby’spsychologicalemptinessandhelplessnessafterlosingDaisy.Silverandgold,whichsymbolizewealth,arethematerialbasisforhisattractiontoDaisy.ThesilvershirtandgoldtieareGatsby’smessageofwealthtoDaisy.Fiveyearsearlier,whenJordansawDaisyandGatsbytogether,hefoundDaisystandingnexttoGatsby’swhiteconvertible.Inthesixthchapterofthestory,NickandGatsbyareinvitedtoDaisy’shousefordinner.Hefoundthat“DaisyandJordanwerelyingonahugecouch,liketwosilverstatuespressingdownontheirwhitedress”.OntheafternoonofGatsby’smurder,whenhetalkedaboutthepastwithNick,healsocomparedDaisyto“brightsilver”.ThetwocolorsofsilverandwhitesymbolizethedualityofDaisy’simage,whichisbothgorgeousandpale.Whitereflectsheremptiness,ignorance,andcoldness.Intheend,sheisequallyirresponsible,insensitive,andboredwithsociety,life,andothers.Thesilvercolorindicatesherwealthandsophistication,asdosetheyouthfulbreathsheexudes.4.3.2SymbolicSignificanceofGreenTraditionally,greenisasymbolofhopeanddreams,aswellasamanifestationofvitality.Greenrepresentsspring,recovery,andvitality.Inthestoryline,greenismainlyassociatedwithGatsbyandhisexpectationsandhopes.Greenalsohasanillusorysymbolicmeaning,whichisjustusedtoexpressGatsby’slifefullofhopeanddreams.TheauthorlinksGatsbywiththe“greenlight”threetimes.Thefirsttimethe“greenlight”appearedwaswhenhestoodinhishomeonamoonlitnightandextendedhisarmtoagreenlightonthedockofDaisy’shouse,whichwassmallandfaraway.InGatsby’smind,nomatterhowfarawaythegreenlightis,hewillusehislifetogetit.Itisnotonlyagreenlight,butalsotheloverhemisses.Atthesametime,itisalsothegoalhepursuesinhislifeandthehopeofahappylife.Thegreenlightishispassporttorealizinghisdream.Hesilentlyguardedthegreenlightandthehopedayandnight.Aslongashegraspedthegreenlight,hegraspedthefutureandhope.Thesecondtimeisinthefifthchapterofthenovel.Fiveyearslater,GatsbytoldDaisyaboutthe“greenlight”w