Why do writer's use symbolism? How come there are different forms of symbolism? Do these symbols actually represent something? Why of course symbols represent something. Often authors use symbols to portray events, feelings, personalities and different time periods. Symbolism is used continuously throughout the two literary pieces called Death of a Salesman and The Great Gatsby. Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller, is a classical portrayal of what kind of tragedy the pursuit of the American Dream can bring to a man and his family. Its based on a committed, hard-working, aging, middle-classed man with a dream to be rich and successful, making it big just like the American Dream. On the other hand is the Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzergerald which is the tragedy if not the death of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby longs to become rich and captivate his only love. Throughout the play, Miller uses symbols such as status, Willy's car and his house to emphacise important meanings. Similarily, throughout the novel, Fitzergerald uses strong contrasting symbols such as the East Egg and the West Egg to represent status, Gatsby's car and the mansion. By using status, cars and houses as symbols used by both authors but to portray different things which represent other realities, an interesting connection can be made.
             One of the many symbols used by both authors which represents other realities is status. Status is a person's position or rank in relation to others and often, separates the rich from the poor. For example in Death of a Saleman, unlike Charley, Willy intends to be "well-liked". He tells his sons that personality is more important than being smart and that a high status and presitige are very essential for they make one succeed more in life. Willy quotes, "The man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates a personal interest, is the man who ge
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