Scott Fitzgerald uses throughout "The Great Gatsby," is symbolism. He uses an abundance of symbols to subtly express his intended concepts and underlying themes. The meanings of these symbols are almost never given directly to the reader in the text; this makes the meaning personal to the reader. Fitzgerald makes the reader search for the meanings in the book, which makes it much more exciting to read. Some of these symbols are the green light at the end of the Buchanans' dock, Gatsby's car, and Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's billboard. These three symbols mean far more that what the reader first thinks, which is how Fitzgerald does such an excellent of expressing their meaning throughout the book. Most of Fitzgerald's symbols have a double meaning, each of these meanings add a different dimension to the novel that allows there to be two different sides to the story. Advocates of these double meanings are able to understand the deeper meaning of the novel. .
"The Great Gatsby" is well known for many reasons, but perhaps the reason that is most obvious to the reader is Fitzgerald's use of symbolism and double meanings. The first symbol that becomes apparent to the reader is the green light that Gatsby is seen staring at in the end of chapter one. When the reader first becomes aware of the green light in the book, Nick Carraway sees Gatsby "emerge from the shadow of my neighbor's mansion and was standing with his hands in his pockets regarding the silver pepper of the stars but I didn't call for him, he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone"" (Fitzgerald 20). At this point in the book, the reader assumes the green light is something Gatsby wants, not the literal light, but something he is determined to attain. The object or idea that Gatsby wants is unknown to the reader and this allows the reader to assume certain qualities of Gatsby. As the reader gets deeper into the story, Gatsby's love for Daisy Buchanan starts to unravel.
