Abstract:The Great Gatsby is the great work written by Francis Scott Fitzgerald in the 1920s. It shows the process of the disillusion of “American Dream”. This paper will analyze how symbolism highlights the theme—the disillusion of “American Dream”, in terms of the relationship between the tragedy of Gatsby and the disillusion of “American Dream”. 

This paper will analyze symbolism from four parts: scenes, characters, colors and theme, to reveal the symbolic meanings that specific scenes, personal characters, colors of objects and theme of the novel stand for in the “Jazz Age’’. The research also shows the complete process of “chasing dream” and “disillusion of dream” through the struggling life of an ordinary person. Thus, this paper explores the cause of tragic destiny, to reflect the inevitability of individual tragedy that results from the demise of morality and mental vacancy in this “Jazz Age”.

 From the point of symbolism, the paper will discuss the meaning of different images to American Dream , in order to show the social situation of “Jazz Age” in the round, presenting the primary cause of the disillusion of “American Dream”.

Key Words：symbolism, American Dream, scenes, characters, colors

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Ⅰ.Introduction1

Ⅱ. The Specific Application of Symbolism1

A.The Symbolic Meaning of Scenes1

1. The Eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg--A Judge of Good and Evil2

2. The Valley of Ashes-- Desolation and Despair3

3. The Light--The American Dream4

B.The Symbolic Meaning of Characters5

1.Gatsby--A Dream Seeker5

2.Daisy--The American Dream6

3.Tom--The Obstacle7

C.The Symbolic Meaning of Color8

1.White--Pure but Inane8

2.Green--Hope but Imaginary9

3.Yellow--Wealth and Luxury10

D.The Symbolic Meaning of the Theme--the Disillusion of American Dream11

ⅢConclusion11

Bibliography14

Acknowledgements16

致谢16