Saturday, September 25, 2010

Fire vs. Water - Lex Jackson

In chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald compares Gatsby and Daisy to fire and water, respectively, to emphasize how they have grown apart. The chapter opens with a description of Gatsby's house as 'blazing.' (p.81-83). However, starting with Daisy's arrival, and continuing throughout the duration of her stay, there is 'increasing rain.' (p.86-96). Similarly, at the exact moment when Gatsby first sees Daisy, he is 'standing in a puddle of water,' (p.85), a metaphor for his being in her company. The juxtaposition continues in descriptions of the two characters. Gatsby is described as 'glowing' (p.89) and 'radiating,' (p.89), with a smile of 'recurrent light' (p.89) and a voice containing 'feverish warmth,' (p.96), all images of fire. Inversely, Daisy has a 'damp streak of hair' (p.85) and 'wet hands,' (p.85), as well as a voice that 'ripples,' (p.85), a face 'smeared with tears,' (p.89), and a tendency to cry 'stormily,' (p.92), all images of water. The differences between these two characters tell the reader that Gatsby and Daisy have lived in two separate worlds for too long, and cannot coexist as fluidly as they used to. Regarding their future together, do you believe that these opposing lifestyles will hinder their relationship, pushing Gatsby and Daisy apart, or that the saying 'opposites attract' will hold strong, and their differences will unite these two long lost lovers? 



3 comments:

  1. I think the images you have described are very insightful. Although, i do not believe that these images say they have lived apart for too long or opposites attract. I interpret the fire and water symbols as a foretelling that they will end up destroying each other.

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  2. That's very observant Lex. I'd like to add the image of Daisy's Green light to her list of gloomy symbols. Perhaps both fire and ice are metephors for the ways the characters live their lives. Gatsby lives with parties every weekend, turning all the lights on in his house even when there is nobody there to enjoy them. He is inflating his life with brightness, perhaps to avoid being sad. Daisy on the other hand, is quite obviously miserable. From the first chapter we can tell that her marriage is not going well, and thinks that the best person she can be is "a beautiful little fool." I think this is Fitzgerald furthering his point that wealth equals misery, rather than a contrast between two characters.

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