Great Gatsby
Throughout novels there are recurring elements and literary devices that are known as motifs. Motifs are integral to a novel for they help to develop the novel's major theme. Weather is a motif that can be frequently and fundamentally used over the course of a novel. In many instances, weather can be a pace setter for the emotional tone of a certain time, such as on a rainy day the mood may be melancholy. Weather may also be used as a metaphor. Weather is used as a motif in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the weather to set the emotional tone of the novel and as a metaphor. In The Great Gatsby, when the climactic confrontation between Tom and Gatsby occurs on the hottest day of the year, weather is used to set the emotional tone for this particular time. The conflict is perpetuated by the heat which symbolizes the confusion and tension of that time. One particular scene that illustrates the heat perpetuating the confusion of the time is when Daisy says "'But it's so hot,' ...'And everything's so confused'"(125). Daisy is attributing the hea
This literally displays the rain fading away and the sun coming out. This statement regarding the room's climate directly reflects the current argument. Also, when Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, Nick, and Jordan arrive in their suite in New York, the current situation was summed up by the line, "the room was large and stifling. A small gust of wind that scarcely corrugated the surface was enough to disturb its accidental course with its accidental burden. Fitzgerald relates this awaking love to the weather when he states "but the darkness had parted in the west, and there was a pink and golden billow of foamy clouds above the sea"(99). When the sun comes out, the weather exemplifies Daisy and Gatsby rekindling their love; and when Gatsby is killed on the first day of autumn, the weather reflects death. As this scene unfolds, Fitzgerald writes: "With little ripples that were hardly the shadows of waves, the laden mattress moved irregularly down the pool. The touch of a cluster of leaves revolved it. At this time, the conflict was brewing and stifling just like that of the room. Fitzgerald's use of weather is similar as to when the climactic scenes of a horror film occur during a thunderstorm. When Wilson hears of who killed his wife he travels to Gatsby's mansion and kills Gatsby. Weather affects people everyday, and is often very integral in people's lives.
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Acceptance Essays
