Literary topic
INTRODUCTION TO PAGE:
This page is intended to give an insight into the thinking behind F. Scott Fitzgerald's use of water imagery The Great Gatsby. All information presented is in no way official or necessarily his intended use of water imagery, but simply my personal interpretation (which often changes) of his use of water in this novel.
Example 1 (86)
In the first use of water imagery, Fitzgerald foreshadows Gatsby's death later in the novel. Gatsby suggests that he and Nick take a plunge in the swimming pool, stating, "I haven't made use of it all summer" (86). Nick turns him down, explaining that he has to go to bed. This is ironic because later Gatsby takes a mattress to the swimming pool to lie down, and he is killed.
Example 2 (p 88)
On the day that Gatsby and Daisy meet at Nick's house, rain is pouring outside. This is foreboding to the unwise decisions that both Gatsby and Daisy are going to make.
Example 3 (pp 89, 169, 170)
On the day that Gatsby and Daisy are going to meet, Nick and Gatsby are at Nick's house before Daisy arrives. Gatsby mentions that the rain is supposed to stop at four in the afternoon. The rain actually stops at 3:30. Later, Gatsby is shot by Wilson about 3:30 and was supposed to receive a telephone message by four. Thus, his death was foreshadowed by the rain. Also, Gatsby is portrayed as Christ being crucified. While taking the mattress to the pool, Gatsby shouldered the mattress in much the same position Christ was in when crucified. Denying his butler's help, he goes out to the pool, lies down on the mattress (cross), and takes the punishment for Daisy's sins. After Wilson kills Gatsby, Gatsby is left in the water, on the mattress. Wilson then shoots himself on the grass, "and the holocaust was complete" (170). The imagery here is Gatsby as Christ, dying for Daisy's sins.
Example 4 (pp 94, 98)
When Nick returns from the kitchen to be with Daisy and Gatsby, he brings up that the rain has stopped. Gatsby turns and asks Daisy how she likes that, to which she responds, "I'm glad, Jay" (94). Gatsby proposes that they all go to his house to look around. This occurs, and before they are able to see his hydroplane and flowers, it begins to rain. This symbolizes his future relationship with Daisy. Before he is able to share his life with her, the rain begins, and he takes the blame for Daisy's mistake.
Example 5 (pp 182, 183)
Nick, Mr. Gatz, and the minister arrive at Gatsby's funeral in a limo during a "thick drizzle." Later, four or five servants and the postman from the West Egg arrived. They all were "wet to the skin" and the owl-eyed man from Gatsby's library splashes up later. The minister explains, "Blessed are the dead that the rain falls on," to which the owl-eyed man says, "Amen to that." Nick also notices that people who used to appear to like Gatsby, frequenting his many parties, do not come to the funeral.
Page last updated on May 8, 1999.
Curator: Jeff Evey