The 1920's were a decade of money and power. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's book The Great Gatsby, he combines the history along with the idea of the wealthy being in control. Fitzgerald uses the symbols of Gatsby's shirts, his library, and the color yellow, along with the use of automobiles to express the wealthy. These symbols along with the theme wealth, describes the setting and relationship of the wealthy during the 1920's. The Great Gatsby contains many different symbols and themes.
             Clearly, several of the ways Fitzgerald describes Gatsby's wealth is in his library and in the clothes he wears. Gatsby shows Nick and Daisy his house. When they go to his bedroom, Gatsby pulls his shirts out of the closet. The narrator describes the shirts as, 'sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray? (Fitzgerald 97) Gatsby shows his shirts as if they were trophies won in her honor. The shirt's colors and patterns show that these items were picked very carefully. During an early party, Nick and Jordan tour Gatsby's mansion. During this tour they encounter a puzzled looking man in the library. Owl Eyes exclaims, Absolutely real- have pages and everything. I thought they?d be a nice durable cardboard?(50). During this time period people would fill the top of the bookcases with phony books for appearances. Fitzgerald uses the symbols of real books all over the library to express Gatsby's wealth and his obsession with appearances. Nick and Jordan have joined some people at a table and have begun talking. Lucille, one of Gatsby's guest, says,When I was here last I tore my gown on a chair, and he asked me my name and address- inside a week I got a package from Croirier's with a new evening gown in it? (47). Gatsby is aware of the ripped dress and replaces it with a two hundred and fifty dollar dress. This was an unnecessary act, but it symbolizes Gatsby's wealth....