Thursday, August 9, 2012

I. See. Everything.

The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Pages 156-162

"'God knows what you've been doing, everything you've been doing. You may fool me, but you can't fool God!'" (Fitzgerald, 159).

I KNEW IT! The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg were a symbol for something; they are an illustration of God's omnipresence on earth. The strange part about it, though, is the location of the sign. It stands in the wasteland of ashes, between the artistocracy and wealth of Long Island and the fast-paced immoral lifestyle of New York. Many times, Tom Buchanan had passed by these 'eyes of God' as he crossed into the city to carry on his affair. They had also witnessed the abrupt end of this very same affair. Another thing though, is that the advertisement lacks a mouth, which I interpret as the lack of judgment being passed, especially from Nick. He was aware of both affairs, yet he let them continue without interruption because it was not his place to ruin the lives of others.

But other than the grand symbolism in this section, GATSBY?! I'm beginning to notice a reoccuring theme in our summer reading: an individual on the search for love whose life is stripped from them as they discover what they want. Depressing, yes.

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